Laboratories increasingly need advanced elemental analysis without the complexity often associated with triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In an interview recorded at ASMS 2026, Geoff Winkett, General Manager and Vice President of the Spectroscopy and Vacuum Division at Agilent Technologies, discusses how instrument and software design can help laboratories improve performance, productivity, and ease of use.
Winkett focuses on the Agilent 9500 Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS and the operational pressures shaping its development. Environmental, food, energy, chemical, and materials testing laboratories must process high sample volumes, deliver results faster, and control operating costs. Many also need systems that technicians can use without extensive ICP-MS expertise.
Simplifying Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS
Triple quadrupole ICP-MS has traditionally required experienced operators to manage complex methods, interference control, and multiple gas modes. Winkett explains that the 9500 combines hardware and software features designed to reduce these demands.
The instrument’s dual cell system supports two operating modes. An advanced helium mode removes the need to switch between multiple gas modes for routine analysis. According to Winkett, this approach can increase sensitivity for low-mass elements by around 20 times and reduce acquisition time by approximately 33%.
For more difficult interferences, the system uses an oxygen mode that draws on ambient laboratory air. This removes the need to install and manage a separate supply of high-purity oxygen. Laboratories can reduce gas infrastructure, environmental health and safety considerations, and system complexity.
Software Supports Method Development
The accompanying Agilent ICP-MS software for OpenLab uses an element-focused, visual interface. Winkett describes the software as a key part of making triple quadrupole ICP-MS accessible to a wider range of laboratory staff.
Existing single quadrupole ICP-MS users can transfer methods to the new system. New users can access a method advisor that guides them through method creation and instrument setup. These tools can shorten training requirements and help laboratories bring new operators into routine workflows.
This ease of use has gained importance as laboratories shift more instrument operation from highly specialized scientists to technicians. Clear workflows and guided method development can help staff produce consistent results while reducing their dependence on deep knowledge of ICP-MS theory.
Productivity and Operating Costs Drive Instrument Design
For high-throughput laboratories, instrument downtime and slow analysis directly affect revenue and turnaround times. Winkett notes that customers across several industries want to shorten the period between sample submission and final result.
The 9500 can deliver productivity gains of more than 20%, according to figures discussed in the interview. The system also reduces exhaust requirements by 50% and electricity consumption by approximately 13–18%. These savings can become significant in facilities operating several ICP-MS instruments.
Winkett views ease of use as an ongoing development priority rather than a one-time product feature. As laboratories expand instrument fleets and manage staffing constraints, analytical platforms must help users begin productive work faster. The combination of simplified interference management, guided software, faster acquisition, and lower utility requirements reflects a broader move toward high-performance instruments that fit routine laboratory operations.
