How to Check Pump System Accuracy for HPLC Analysis

Pump system accuracy is crucial for equipment used to conduct high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis in the pharmaceutical and other industries subject to regulatory oversight by the FDA and similar authorities. Among functions performed by HPLC are included checks for purity, monitoring changes in pharmaceutical intermediates during chemical synthesis scale-up, stability and dissolution tests, and performing ongoing quality control procedures.Digital HPLC Liquid Flow Meter At a GlanceClick to download PDF

A Brief on HPLC Analysis

Identifying an analyte by HPLC is based on accurate and reproducible column retention time as the analyte is pumped through an HPLC system.  Reproducible retention time is critical and depends on accurate, uniform, reproducible HPLC pump flow rates.

Note that it is important to distinguish between accuracy and precision.  These two terms may seem the same but they are not necessarily so.  For example, an HPLC system (or for that matter many other systems such as analytical scales) may … Read the rest

Digital HPLC Flowmeter Accuracy Checks

Flow CalAs pointed out in our post on HPLC pump accuracy uniform and reproducible column retention times are critical when analytes are pumped through a high performance liquid chromatography system. One of the most efficient ways of checking on the accuracy of HPLC pump systems is the Flow Cal 5000 digital liquid flow meter available from Tovatech. But how do you check on the accuracy of the checker – namely the Flow Cal 5000?

Flow Cal 5000 HPLC Flow Meter Accuracy Checks

When received from Tovatech the Flow Cal 5000 is accompanied by a UKAS traceable calibration certificate* good for one year. Standard calibration is 1 ml/min but on request it can be supplied at points from 0.5 to 25 ml/min. Multiple readings are taken at each flow rate then averaged on the calibration certificate.

A recalibration procedure should be scheduled annually or immediately if users think the unit is not … Read the rest

How Accurate is your HPLC Pump?

As researchers know a critical if not the most critical aspect of an HPLC pump system is providing uniform and reproducible column retention times as analytes are pumped through a liquid chromatography system.  This in turn relies on uniform and reproducible HPLC pump flow rates.  After initial operational qualification (OQ) periodic calibration checks of HPLC pump systems must be undertaken to confirm OQ and to identify and correct flow rate variances that may develop due to factors such as worn pump seals or sediments that interfere with flow rates.   These calibration tests are performed by checking flow rates while pumping solvent through the HPLC system.

HPLC Troubleshooting – the Hard Way and Easy Way

Several of our posts on the FlowCal 5000 digital liquid flow meter explain how the system works in comparison to manual methods.  Taking a paragraph from our Flow Meter Buyers Guide researchers “can measure flow rates … Read the rest