Using ChemStation Plus and Agilent column ID tags for easier ...

Using ChemStation Plus andAgilent column ID tags for easierhandling and compliance inregulated laboratoriesApplication NoteIntroductionAll laboratories have some sortof repository such as a drawer orcupboard, which are full ofcolumns. These columns are usuallystored with little or no documentationabout the state of thecolumn, for example, if the columnis still good, or how much ithas been used?Determining whether a columncan perform suitably involveslengthy equilibration, and aseries of system suitability tests.If the column fails, the sametests must be repeated on thenext column and so on.To address this problem, manylaboratories attempt to keep alogbook to track column usage.Each time a column is used, theanalyst or technician records theserial number, the number ofsamples run and the mobilephase used before returning thecolumn to storage.This system is time consumingand relies on each person in thelab taking the time to record theinformation. Further, they mustalso remember to update thedata system with length, diameterand void volume of the columnto enable accurate calculationsof k’ and theoretical plates.Laboratory staff often do thesecalculations on their ownbecause they don’t trust therecorded values for the void volume,which again wastes valuabletime.Agilent Technologies provides aconvenient and compliant solutionbased on RF tags attached tothe columns, antennas built intothe Agilent 1100 Series columncompartment, and controlthrough Agilent ChemStationsoftware.

A Convenient SolutionThe technology behind theAgilent column identification tagwas adapted from the aviationindustry where it was usedto track the usage of aircraftparts. In this application it wasimportant to replace worn partsbefore lifetime expiry and possiblefailure.In Agilent’s implementation ofthe technology, the 1100 seriescolumn compartment is able toread and write information to anelectronic tag attached to a column.This information is readevery time a new column isinstalled and a counter that monitorsthe number of injections isincremented after every run.Table 1 shows the data that canbe written to the tag and monitoredwhenever the column is inuse. All the data is overwritable,so a column tag can be transferedto a new column when anold column in discarded.Item Example CommentProduct number79916OD-552Serial number 950522 Date of manufactureBatch number 1675Geometry (mm) 100 x 2.1Stationary phaseODS HypersilParticle size 5 µmNumber of injections 1267 See note below*Maximum pressure (bar) 350Maximum temperature 70Maximum pH 12Column void volume (ml) 2.65Table 1Items of information that the 1100 Series column compartment can read and write to the columnidentification tag. The Agilent ChemStation allows to edit all items.*The number of injections is updated after every run to create a column history.OperationWhen a tagged column is insertedinto the 1100 column compartmentwith the tag placedwithin range of the receiver, theinformation is read automaticallyand used in the appropriatecalculations. To view this informationor to update with newinformation when changingcolumns, the user simply goes tothe Instrument menu and clickson the item Columns. This opensthe online column databasewhere the information on manycolumns can be stored andtracked. In the upper window,the information read fromthe column tag is displayed, seefigure 1.Figure 1The online column database stores information about many columns2

To update this information theuser fills in the new columninformation and clicks OK. Afterconfirmation, the new informationis written to the column tagfor future use.Because this information istracked by the system and automaticallyincremented with everyinjection, users can be confidentthat the ChemStation calculatesaccurately the performance parametersk’ and theoretical plates.Users also know the status of anycolumn inserted into the systemwithout wasting any time equilibratingthe column or having thecolumn lose resolution during acrucial overnight run.Figure 2Column information tracked from resultsComplianceThe column information isalso saved automatically in thedatabase module of theChemStation Plus system, see figure2.The information is linkedunbreakably to the sampleresults even during archiving andretrieval. This enables users tosearch for their samples withsimple mouse clicks. When allsamples matching the query aredisplayed, users can highlight aparticular sample, click one buttonand see all the informationthat was collected during therun. This includes operatorname, injection time, data,method and sequence filenames,all the column information andeven the serial number of each1100 module used to collect thedata.Figure 3Instrument information tracked from resultsThis information could be criticalin an audit situation to prove thesystem generating the releasedata was in complete complianceat run-time.The type of control describedhere is called level-4 instrumentcontrol and is built into Agilentanalytical instruments and theChemStation Plus networkeddata system.3

Laboratory ManagementThe column injection informationalso enables users to takeadvantage of powerful tools totrack a particular LC or column’slifetime and performance. Thequery tools of ChemStation Pluscan be used to search for all runsperformed on that column andthen chart the reproducibilityof performance data such asretention times, resolution oreven k’. This control chart in figure4 shows the data and placesthe mean, warning limit (2s) andcritical limit (3s) as lines on thechart for easy interpretation ofwarnings and failure.Figure 4Using control charts to track column performanceThrough regular use of this featurea method developer canmonitor when columns degradein performance and set rules asto what number of injections arethe maximum allowed for a particularapplication. This informationcan also be a powerful partof determining the limits of a columnapplication for method validation.With the charts as part ofthe validation report, the runinformation can prove that anyrun was within the specifiedvalidated range.SummaryEvery Agilent 1100 Series systemthat incules a column compartmentis shipped with a columntag for evaluation. Additionaltags can be ordered in packs of 3(order number 5062-8588). Thesetools can help any laboratorymaintain maximum productivity.Laboratories today cannot affordto waste complete runs due toovernight column degradationor waste time determining if aparticular column will performsuitably for the sample runs or ifit has exceeded its lifetime. Bysimply utilizing the availabletechnology, laboratories can bettermanage their performance,increase productivity and havemore control over their methodsfor compliance.www.agilent.com/chem/ndsThe information in this publication is subject tochange without notice.Copyright © 2002 Agilent Technologies, Inc.All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, adaptation ortranslation without prior written permission isprohibited, except as allowed under the copyrightlaws.Printed in Germany, October 1, 2002Publication Number 5988-5690EN