Food fraud
Food fraud focus for first product from Waters and IonSense tie-up
Waters DART QDa System with LiveID software couples the Acquity QDa detector with the IonSense DART ion source for molecular fingerprinting of foods and ingredients.
Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) is an ion source used in mass spectrometry for various sample types with minimal sample preparation and no requirement for a chromatographic separation.
The source directs heated, ionized gas at the surface of the sample between DART interface and the Waters QDa detector where the ionized molecules are detected.
It was created in 2003 at the mass spectrometry applications laboratory of JEOL USA and commercialised in 2005.
Waters and IonSense collaboration
IonSense manufactures, sells and markets the DART ionization source.
It is first product from a collaboration between the two companies announced in June 2017 to work on joint systems for scientific laboratories.
“With global trade in food growing rapidly, there is a real need for rapid, easily- deployed measurement technologies in food laboratories throughout the world,” said Jeff Mazzeo, VP of marketing at Waters Corporation.
“The DART QDa System with LiveID is the perfect system for laboratories testing for food quality and authenticity, protecting consumers and preventing reputational damage to food brands.”
Real-time fingerprinting of samples
LiveID software allows the user to train and validate multivariate statistical models using the chemical profile from the DART QDa analysis.
LiveID models can be used to classify the identity of unknown samples generating results in near real time and a yes/no answer.
The DART QDa with LiveID System is expected to be available to ship in July.
Brian Musselman, president and CEO of IonSense, Inc, said real-time fingerprinting of food samples is now within reach of every laboratory.
“Direct-from-sample analysis enabled by DART technology, greatly simplifies the whole process of getting fundamental information to the scientist in the fastest way possible.
“The rapid and simple operation of the DART source with the Waters QDa is perfectly matched to the need for screening hundreds of samples per hour for illicit materials.”
IonSense has enabled a mobile DART QDa system for use in non-classical test settings such as food processing, chemical production and international mail facilities.
