Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry

A triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (TQMS or QqQ) is a tandem mass spectrometer consisting of two quadrupole mass analyzers in series, with a radio-frequency-only quadrupole in between that acts as a collision cell for collision-induced dissociation (CID). It breaks down selected precursor/parent ions and generates fragment/product ions.

Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry

Triple quadrupole mass spectrometers are designed to operate in four scan modes: precursor ion scan, neutral loss scan, product ion scan, and MRM/SRM. Although TQMS is not outstanding in terms of mass resolution and mass range, it offers advantages such as low cost, high efficiency, and ease of operation. Simultaneously, the MS/MS technique allows for mass analysis in a spatially tandem manner. TQMS can be used to explore molecular structures through fragmentation patterns and also offers excellent detection sensitivity and quantification capabilities in SRM mode, especially when analyzing small molecules.

TQMS has widespread applications in the following fields

Food and environmental analysis: additive and trace/contaminant screening, including antibiotics and pesticides;
Clinical research: preclinical trials, endocrine studies, and biomarkers;
Forensics and toxicology: impurity and drug molecular structure analysis, and biofluid analysis;
Drug discovery and development: lead compound optimization, ADME, PK/PD, and drug metabolite determination.