Metabolomics – Automated Sample Preparation for GC-MS

Martin Perkins

1st September 2015

Automated Sample Preparation, GC-MS, Metabolomics, Ray Perkins, RIC, The Research Institute for Chromatography,


Where GC-MS is used in metabolomics studies, sample preparation can be a major headache.

Firstly there is the issue of the considerable amount of work involved:

  • Metabolomics involves processing lots of samples.
  • Some form of extraction and derivatisation is almost always needed and this makes sample preparation complex and time consuming.

The sample-to-sample variations that are looked for are often pretty small and so consistency in the way each sample is processed is very important and human error is unwelcome.

All of this serves to make the case for sample prep automation very strong and we are very busy with customers in the UK on this topic.

The Research Institute for Chromatography (RIC) in Belgium is also very active in this field and I have come across this article, published in the latest edition of GERSTEL’s Solutions Magazine, which tells something about what they are doing.

If any of this gives you pause for thought, please contact us. You are welcome to visit our lab to discuss your challenges and how we might be able to help.

Call: +44 (0)1223 279210 or email enquiries@anatune.co.uk.