Sample Introduction
Sample Introduction - Related Videos
11:16
A Microfluidic Chip for ICPMS Sample Introduction
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Cited by 4 •
2015
We present a discrete droplet sample introduction system for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). It is based on a cheap and disposable microfluidic chip that generates highly monodisperse droplets in a size range of 40−60 µm at frequencies from 90 to 7,000 Hz.
07:38
Introduction to the Spectrophotometer
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2023
The spectrophotometer is a routinely used instrument in scientific research. Spectrophotometry is the quantitative measurement of how much a chemical substance absorbs light by passing a beam of light through the sample using a spectrophotometer. In this video, basic concepts in spectrophotometry, including transmittance, absorbance and the Beer-Lambert Law are reviewed in addition to the components of the spectrophotometer. These concepts provide a foundation for how to determine the...
07:52
An Introduction to the Centrifuge
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2023
The centrifuge is an instrument used in nearly every research lab across the globe. Centrifugation is the process by which a centrifuge is used to separate components of a complex mixture. By spinning laboratory samples at very high speeds, the components of a given mixture are subjected to centrifugal force, which causes more dense particles to migrate away from the axis of rotation and lighter ones to move toward it. These particles can sediment at the bottom of the tube into what’s...
09:15
An Introduction to the Micropipettor
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2023
The micropipettor is a common laboratory instrument used for transferring microvolumes of liquid solutions. Micropipettors come in a range of sizes for the accurate movement of volumes between 0.5 and 5000 μl and each instrument requires one of three different sized disposable tips. Micropipettors work by displacing air from the pipette shaft, allowing the liquid to be drawn into the resulting vacuum. Their uses include transferring cell suspensions for a variety of cell-based assays, loading...
07:07
An Introduction to Working in the Hood
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2023
Hoods are a common class of instrument, which act as a protective enclosure for various types of laboratory experiments. They serve to shield experimental samples from the environment, as well as to protect the researcher from hazardous or infectious samples. “The Hood” is a term that can include laminar flow benches, fume hoods, as well as tissue culture hoods or biosafety cabinets. All hoods operate based on the principle of laminar flow and have the same basic components, including a...
FAQs
The introduction step determines whether the portion reaching the instrument accurately represents the prepared sample. Uneven transfer, inefficient transport, or loss before measurement can alter the amount available for detection and produce inconsistent signals. Maintaining representative transfer is therefore essential for dependable precision and quantitative accuracy, regardless of whether the instrument uses chromatography, spectroscopy, or mass spectrometry.
The appropriate approach depends on the sample’s physical state and the instrument’s measurement requirements. Injection, aspiration, nebulization, vaporization, and direct placement provide different ways to move material toward the measurement region. Selecting among them helps align sample handling with the instrument, supporting efficient transport and consistent signal generation without treating every chemical sample the same way.
Controlled flow regulates how quickly and consistently a sample moves through the introduction pathway. Stable transport helps deliver a comparable amount of material to the measurement region, which supports repeatable signal generation. Poorly controlled flow can contribute to variable transfer or sample loss, making it more difficult to obtain precise results and reliable quantitative measurements.
Careful handling and efficient transport limit unwanted material from entering the analytical pathway while helping preserve the intended sample amount. This matters because contamination can affect the measured signal, whereas sample loss can reduce or vary the material available for detection. Designing introduction appropriately therefore supports cleaner measurements, consistent responses, and improved detection and quantification.
A practical sequence begins with the prepared sample, followed by selection of an introduction mode suited to its physical state and the analytical instrument. The sample is then transferred through the chosen pathway, with flow and transport controlled as it moves toward the measurement region. Attention to these steps helps limit loss, contamination, and signal variability before measurement occurs.
It is important whenever the instrument’s signal depends on delivering a representative amount of sample to a defined measurement region. In chromatography, spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry, introduction choices can influence transport, signal consistency, detection limits, and quantitative accuracy. Comparing the sample state and instrument requirements helps researchers select handling conditions that support the intended analytical outcome.