A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: (a) using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target in vitro or ex vivo cell population; (b) mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and (c) analysing said spectrometric data in order to identify and/or characterise said target cell population or one or more cells and/or compounds present in said target cell population.

Provided herein are methods for mapping immune response to an immunogen, comprising: immunizing a subject with an immunogen and obtaining sera from the immunized subject at multiple time intervals following immunization, wherein the sera comprises one or more immune complexes between the immunogen and serum antibodies; imaging, by electron microscopy, the sera obtained from the immunized subject in each of the time intervals, to obtain structural images of the one or more immune complexes formed between the immunogen and serum antibodies; mapping immune response to the immunogen by measuring differences in structural images obtained at different time intervals to simultaneously visualize diverse antibodies targeting distinct epitopes in the immunized subjects. Further provided herein are vaccine design processes, comprising: administering a proposed vaccine to a test subject; imaging the immune complex formed in the test subject upon administration of the proposed vaccine; processing and visualizing the image to determine the likely immunogenicity of the proposed vaccine, and determining that the proposed vaccine is immunogenic if it binds to an antibody, and determining that the proposed vaccine should be redesigned if it does not bind or binds weakly to the antibody.

Intensity measurements made by electron multiplier and image-charge detectors are proportional to charge state. These intensities are used to separate detected ions into different data sets and create mass spectra from the different data sets. Ion measurements are separated by charge state using (i) a single electron multiplier detector, (ii) a single image-charge detector, or (iii) multiple electron multiplier ADC detectors. Using (i), the intensity of a peak calculated from each measured pulse is compared to predetermined intensity ranges and each peak is stored in a corresponding data set. Using (ii), each measured transient time-domain signal is converted to frequency-domain peaks, the intensity of each frequency-domain peak is compared to predetermined intensity ranges, and each peak is stored in a corresponding data set. Using (iii), each detector is adapted to measure a predetermined intensity range and store calculated peaks from the measured pulses in corresponding data sets.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.

A method of analysis using mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: using a first device to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of a first target of biological material; and mass and/or ion mobility analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said aerosol, smoke, or vapour, or ions derived therefrom so as to obtain first spectrometric data. The method may use an ambient ionisation method.

The present invention provides a remote control method of sample preparation and/or sample analysis, which is characterized by synchronously operating a control apparatus in a guest system comprising a sample preparation apparatus and/or sample analysis apparatus through a host computer installed with a remote control software in a host system when the control apparatus in the host system is operated, therefore the sample preparation apparatus and/or sample analysis apparatus can be performed through the synchronously operated control apparatus in the guest system.

A method for controlling a mass spectrometer comprising a mass analyser and a detector. A test specimen is supplied into the mass analyser, to travel through the mass analyser and towards the detector, the test specimen comprising a carrier gas and/or analyte ions, the test specimen being one of a series of test specimens to be analysed. An ion intensity is measured, the ion intensity representing the intensity of ions within the test specimen received at the detector. The method determines if at least one validity criterion of a group of validity criteria is complied with, the group of validity criteria including: identification of a valid peak in the ion intensity measured within a predetermined time interval; and identification of a user-specified flag associated with the predetermined time interval. If none of the validity criteria are complied with, then terminating supplying into the mass analyser the test specimen and any further test specimen of the series of test specimens. A controller configured to carry out the method, and a mass spectrometer are also disclosed.

An analytical device, includes: an ionization unit that ionizes carrier gas introduced into the separation column; a mass separation unit that mass-separates ions generated in the ionization unit; a detection unit that detects the ions mass-separated by the mass separation unit in amplification with a predetermined multiplication factor, and outputs a detection signal; an analysis unit that analyzes the detection signal having been output from the detection unit; and an adjustment unit performs an adjustment of the multiplication factor of the detection unit and/or voltage applied to an electrode of an ion transport system of the mass separation unit based on magnitude of the detection signal corresponding to the carrier gas detected by the detection unit.

A method includes obtaining a first mass spectrum; selecting a first peak of the first mass spectrum; fragmenting and analyzing ions of the first peak to obtain a second mass spectrum; performing a real-time spectral search for compounds corresponding to peaks in the second mass spectrum; identifying fragments for the compounds identified based on the real-time spectral search; adding mass-to-charge ratios for the fragments to an exclusion list; selecting a second peak present in the first mass spectrum and not on the exclusion list; and fragmenting and analyzing ions of the second peak to obtain a third mass spectrum.

A tuning system may acquire, from a mass spectrometer during a batch of one or more analytical runs performed with the mass spectrometer, tune data associated with an operating characteristic of the mass spectrometer. The tuning system may determine, based on the tune data, a value of an operating parameter configured to adjust the operating characteristic of the mass spectrometer and set the operating parameter to the determined value.