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Agilent 6490 LC-MS/MS System with 1260 Infinity II DAD: Applications in Pharma, Food, and Environmental Labs
The Agilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole LC-MS/MS System with an Agilent 1260 Infinity II HPLC System equipped with a Diode Array Detector (DAD) front-end is a highly versatile analytical platform used in environmental, pharmaceutical, food safety, clinical research, forensic, toxicology, biotechnology, and academic laboratories for trace-level compound identification and quantification. Common laboratory applications include PFAS analysis, pesticide residue testing, pharmaceutical bioanalysis, therapeutic drug monitoring, veterinary drug residue screening, mycotoxin analysis, environmental contaminant monitoring, metabolomics research, biomarker quantification, and forensic toxicology investigations. The Agilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole MS delivers exceptional sensitivity and selectivity through Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM), enabling accurate quantitation of target compounds at ultra-trace concentrations in complex sample matrices. The 1260 Infinity II DAD provides complementary UV-Vis spectral information, allowing analysts to perform peak purity assessment, compound verification, and simultaneous optical detection alongside mass spectrometric analysis. Environmental laboratories frequently utilize this configuration for regulated contaminant testing, while pharmaceutical and biotechnology laboratories rely on it for pharmacokinetic studies, impurity analysis, and drug development workflows. Food safety laboratories benefit from high-throughput screening and confirmation of contaminants across diverse sample types. Combined with robust chromatographic performance, advanced quantitative capabilities, dual detection flexibility, and proven Agilent reliability, the Agilent 6490 LC-MS/MS System with a 1260 Infinity II DAD front-end provides a powerful solution for demanding analytical applications requiring both spectral characterization and highly sensitive quantitative analysis.
Agilent 6490 LC-MS/MS with 1260 Infinity II DAD Front-End: Refurbished System Benefits and Pricing
Certified refurbished systems typically range from approximately $125,000 to $175,000, representing significant savings compared to comparable new systems such as the Agilent 6475 LC-MS/MS paired with a 1260 Infinity II DAD configuration, which commonly range from approximately $350,000 to $420,000 depending on software, detector options, and application-specific accessories. In addition to the initial acquisition cost, laboratories should budget for ongoing operational expenses, including LC columns, solvents, calibration standards, sample preparation supplies, pump seals, autosampler consumables, DAD lamp replacement, nitrogen gas generation or supply, vacuum pump maintenance, ion source cleaning, capillary and ion optics replacement, software support, preventive maintenance, and compliance-related qualification services. Long-term ownership considerations may also include detector servicing, vacuum system maintenance, performance verification, and service agreements designed to maximize uptime and analytical consistency. Purchasing a certified refurbished Agilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole LC-MS/MS System with a 1260 Infinity II DAD front-end enables laboratories to substantially reduce capital expenditures while maintaining access to exceptional MRM sensitivity, robust chromatographic performance, spectral confirmation capabilities, and proven analytical reliability for applications such as PFAS testing, pharmaceutical bioanalysis, pesticide residue monitoring, food safety analysis, environmental contaminant testing, and targeted quantitative research.
EPA Method 8321B: Solvent-Extractable Nonvolatile Compounds Using Agilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole MS with 1260 Infinity II DAD Front-End
The Agilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole LC-MS/MS System with an Agilent 1260 Infinity II HPLC System and Diode Array Detector (DAD) front-end provides a highly effective platform for EPA Method 8321B, which is used for the determination of solvent-extractable nonvolatile compounds in environmental samples. The 1260 Infinity II LC delivers excellent chromatographic separation of diverse analyte classes, including explosives, nitroaromatics, nitramines, phenoxy acid herbicides, and other nonvolatile organic contaminants commonly encountered in soil, groundwater, sediment, and waste matrices. The Agilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole MS offers exceptional sensitivity and selectivity through Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM), enabling accurate quantitation of target compounds at trace concentration levels while minimizing matrix interferences. The integrated DAD provides complementary UV-Vis spectral information that can support compound characterization, peak purity assessment, and method development activities. Environmental laboratories benefit from robust quantitative performance, broad dynamic range, excellent reproducibility, and high sample throughput capabilities that support demanding regulatory and remediation projects. Combined with advanced LC-MS/MS sensitivity, reliable chromatographic performance, and complementary spectral confirmation tools, the Agilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole MS with 1260 Infinity II DAD Front-End provides a powerful solution for EPA Method 8321B environmental contaminant analysis and compliance monitoring applications.
Labs & Universities Utilizing the Agilent 6490 LC-MS/MS for Advanced Research
The Agilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole LC-MS/MS with 1260 Infinity II DAD Front-End is widely recognized for its role in advanced academic and research applications. At the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the School of Pharmacy’s Mass Spectrometry Facility utilizes this platform for proteomics, metabolomics, and small molecule analysis, highlighting its versatility and high-performance capabilities. Similarly, researchers at the University of Victoria’s Proteomics Centre have developed multiplexed MRM assays using the Agilent 6490 to quantify dozens of cardiovascular disease biomarkers in human plasma, demonstrating its strength in targeted quantitative workflows. With exceptional sensitivity, robust MRM performance, and integrated chromatographic and spectral capabilities, this configuration remains a trusted solution for laboratories conducting cutting-edge analytical research.
