This quarter GenTech Scientific is featuring an Agilent 6430 Triple Quad LC/MS system with Agilent 1260 HPLC at the incredible low price of $58,500. Expertly refurbished, the system comes with pump, data system and warranty options. Let’s take a closer look at Triple Quad (QQQ) technology and the features and capabilities the 6430 brings to the laboratory.
A Little Background
The basis of mass spectrometry is the analysis of ions moving through a vacuum. A single quadrupole mass spectrometer uses DC and RF voltages and four parallel rods to filter ions by their m/z values. (mass/charge ratio) A single quadrupole mass spectrometer operated in SIM (Selected Ion Monitoring) mode, wherein only ions of a particular m/z value are allowed to pass through to the detector, provides the best sensitivity for quantitation and increases selectivity.
About Triple Quad Technology
The development of the triple quadrupole mass spectrometer significantly increased sensitivity. The triple quadrupole mass spectrometer consists of an ion source, enhanced desolvation technology, followed by ion optics that transfer the ions to the first quadrupole positioned to the right of it.
With three quadrupoles, Quad 1 and Quad 3 do the work of mass filters and Quad 2 serves as a collision cell. The overall result is to improve sensitivity, reduce interference, and enhance resolution. The triple quad is also capable of performing MS/MS analyses. The figure below shows the 6430 schematic and is representative of the triple quad structure.
The Benefits of Triple Quad Technology
Compared to single quadrupole (MS) systems, triple quadrupole (MS/MS) systems offer:
- Higher selectivity. Which means less interference of co-eluting compounds and matrix, which in turn requires less HPLC separation.
- Better Signal-to-Noise (S/N) ratio supports quantitation with lower limits of quantitation.
- Using Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) results in more reliable identification of detected analytes. (As compared to Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM).)
- A wider linear range of quantitation. Which means that samples with very low or very high concentrations can accurately be quantified without having to dilute or concentrate them.
- Better accuracy and reproducibility – especially at low analyte concentrations.
Source: Advantages of Using Triple Quadrupole over Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry to Quantify and Identify the Presence of Pesticides in Water and Soil Samples. André Schreiber, AB SCIEX Concord, Ontario, Canada. 2010.
In their 2012 6400 Series Triple Quad LC/MS Concepts Guide, Agilent lays out the highlights of the series development, from the 6420 to the 6490. Looking at the 6430 in particular, its improvements over the 6420 included the addition of a second turbo pump, improved pumping in vacuum stage 2, and updated collision cell lenses. Another advantage of the 6430 was that it could be upgraded to a 6460. The 6430 shares key features that were continued in the 6460, including the same resistive capillary transfer tube[1]; improved pumping in vacuum stage 2, and the addition of the second turbo pump. Collision cell technology, present in both the 6430 and the 6460, produces higher sensitivity and faster responses without memory or cross-talk effects.
This video from Agilent explains How it works – 6400 Series QQQ LC/MS Systems.
Agilent 6430 LC/MS System – A Detailed Overview
The Agilent 6430 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS system is a high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry platform engineered for quantitative and qualitative analysis in demanding laboratory environments. Designed for precision, sensitivity, and throughput, the 6430 is widely used in pharmaceutical, environmental, food safety, clinical research, and chemical testing laboratories.
Key Features and Capabilities
• Triple Quadrupole Technology. Employs three quadrupoles in tandem for superior specificity and sensitivity. The first quadrupole (Q1) isolates the target precursor ion, the second (Q2) serves as a collision cell for fragmentation, and the third (Q3) filters the resulting product ions—significantly reducing background noise and improving quantitation accuracy in complex matrices.
• High-Precision Quantification. The system is engineered to accurately quantify target compounds, especially in complex samples. Optimized for narrow UHPLC peak widths (<5 seconds FWHM), enabling accurate integration and quantitation even at low concentrations. Particularly effective in trace-level detection and regulated method applications.
• Low Attomole Sensitivity. Achieves <10 attomole sensitivity for peptide quantitation when integrated with Agilent’s HPLC-Chip Nano LC system, making it suitable for proteomics and biomarker discovery workflows.
• Fast MS/MS Cycle Times. Rapid cycle times down to 10 ms per transition allow collection of sufficient data points (≥10 per peak) for reliable quantitation, even for UHPLC separations with sub-2 second peaks.
• Dynamic Multiple Reaction Monitoring (dMRM). Supports up to 4,000 MRM transitions in a single run. The dMRM capability optimizes dwell times in real-time for each transition, maximizing sensitivity and reproducibility across large compound panels.
• Broad Application Versatility. Proven in diverse analytical workflows:
— Pharmaceutical – pharmacokinetics (PK), drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK), bioequivalence studies.
— Food & Beverage – pesticide residue screening, mycotoxin quantitation, nutritional content analysis.
— Environmental – water and soil contaminant testing, endocrine-disrupting compounds.
— Chemical & Industrial – specialty chemicals, polymer additives, and process monitoring.
• Seamless LC Integration
Compatible with Agilent 1200, 1260, and 1290 Infinity HPLC systems, providing scalable liquid chromatography options from analytical to nano-flow configurations.
• MassHunter Software Suite
Typically controlled via Agilent’s MassHunter software, which offers automated compound optimization, flexible data acquisition methods, and integrated quantitation/qualitative reporting. Includes advanced reporting templates to support regulatory compliance (e.g., FDA 21 CFR Part 11).
How Can the Agilent 6430 Benefit Your Lab?
- Enhanced Performance with Cost Efficiency.
Improves sensitivity, precision, and throughput compared to the Agilent 6410, with minimal increases in operational cost. Reduced solvent usage with UHPLC compatibility lowers per-sample expenses. - Reliable Data for Narrow Peaks.
Fast electronics and optimized dwell times ensure reproducible integration for peaks with durations of just a few seconds, supporting UHPLC method development. - Ideal for Complex Assays
Well-suited for multi-analyte targeted quantitation such as metabolomics, toxicology panels, or environmental multi-residue methods. - Proven Robustness and Uptime.
Built for high-throughput labs with long-term stability, minimal calibration drift, and reduced maintenance frequency—maximizing instrument availability. - Regulatory and Method Compliance.
Supports validated analytical methods under FDA, EMA, EPA, and ISO guidelines. Thereby making it suitable for both research and regulated testing laboratories.
Choose the Agilent 6430 LC/MS…
If you need a well-rounded system offering high sensitivity, fast acquisition, advanced MRM capacity, and cost-effective performance in complex assays. Shop our limited time offer and get a phenomenal price on a 6430 MS paired with a 1260 HPLC!
More Resources:
- As the triple quadrupole turns 40, mass spec gurus look back on what it’s meant to chemistry. By Celia Henry Arnaud. Chemical & Engineering News, 5 March 2018.
- A Quick Introduction to Triple-Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry. JEOL USA Blog. 2021.
[1] The resistive capillary transfer tube improves ion transmission and allows virtually instantaneous polarity switching.
