Equipment
All equipment needed for analytical assays of small molecules is present in the BPAL. The lab is equipped with standard biochemical/biological/analytical laboratory items such as pipettors, pH meters, centrifuges, sample shakers, refrigerator/freezer combination units, etc. Additionally, there are other more sophisticated, state of the art equipment items including 7 deep freezers (-80°C), 5 HPLC systems, 2 with UV detectors, 1 with an electrochemical detector, and 3 with tandem mass spectroscopy detectors including nitrogen generators, 2 UV plate readers (96 wells), computers to operate the equipment, nitrogen generators for the tandem mass spectrometers, two fully equipped fume hoods to allow for sample processing and drying under a stream of Nitrogen, and a Milli-Q water purification system.
The specific equipment available in the lab includes:
- Shimadzu UHPLC LC-30A with Schimadzu LCMS-8045 tandem mass spectrometer
- Shimadzu LC20 HPLC with AB Sciex 4000 tandem mass spectrometer
- Shimadzu LC20 HPLC with AB Sciex 3200 tandem mass spectrometer
- Shimadzu LC20 Series HPLC with UV detector systems (two)
Blood samples are able to be processed in one of several centrifuges in the lab, depending on the extent of sample fractionation required. These include:
- Beckman Coulter Allegra X-12R
- Beckman Coulter Avanti J-E
A BSL level biosafety cabinet is located in the laboratory to allow for safe sample handling. This cabinet is inspected and maintained by our Institutional Environmental Health and Safety officials annually to ensure proper function.
