Using the GERSTEL MPS to Make Calibration Standards

Making up standards by hand is time consuming and error prone

For many customers, the GERSTEL MultiPurpose Sampler (MPS) is the autosampler of choice because it gives them access to the widest range of novel, automated sample preparation and introduction techniques.

What is often overlooked is the fact that it can also be used to simply and accurately prepare calibration standards, quality control samples and spike internal standards and surrogates.

Some of our customers also use their GERSTEL MPS to automate the preparation of their analytical standards and they do this for the following reasons:

• Preparing standards automatically takes less time than doing it manually.
• Some have too many standards to prepare manually.
• Volumetric glassware requires extensive cleaning which is time consuming and generates litres of waste. The MPS is much better in this respect.
• Results from manually prepared standards can be too variable.
• The cost of preparing standards by hand is too high.
• They want to maximise the value that they can get from their investment in an MPS.
• The MPS that they bought for other reasons, is only partly utilised and can prepare standards without reconfiguration (you just need to compose an appropriate prep method).

If you already have an MPS and you aren’t using it to prepare your standards, you may be missing a valuable trick.

On the other hand if you and your colleagues make up lots of standards, you may well be able to justify dedicating a bench-mounted MPS to this task. In comparison to other laboratory robots, the MPS is an inexpensive way of doing this kind of work.

Just think, how easy would this make this task in your lab?

• No volumetric flasks to clean and calibrate.
• No waiting around for someone to finish with the microsyringe you need.
• Calibration curves more reproducible, lower RSDs on AQC and internal standards within sample batches.
• Did I add internal standard to that sample..?

I got the idea for this post when I spoke to John Sellers, Group Leader, Analytical Department at Akzo Nobel in Felling, Gateshead about how he gets the most out of one of his GERSTEL MPS systems.

John has kindly provided real data comparing calibration standards prepared manually versus those prepared using the GERSTEL MPS and we will, with John’s help, use this to create an application note on this subject in due course.

If you have an MPS and you would like some advice on using it to prepare standards, please contact us on: 01223 279 210 or email: enquiries@anatune.co.uk