Category Archives: Ask a guru answer
Issues with Actively Scanning Virus Protection Applications and Data Acquisition and Processing
In many instances of instrument and processing stations being connected to the internet, I’ve helped individuals having system lock up issues on various mass spec systems over the past 20 years, when using Real-Time Virus Scanning Protection.
This issue is vendor agnostic and will causes problems in data collection and processing on a number of vendor platforms.
If you have Norton, McAfee, Microsoft Security Essentials/Windows Defender, etc and you need to run real-time virus protection. You should exclude the folders where data is actively being collected and processed. This will ensure that any processes, such as instrument communication, raw data writing to disk or processed result file creation,aren’t being interrupted by virus checking during data collection and manipulation.
Below is a list of folders recommended for exclusion in the various anti-virus programs.
The example comes from Windows Defender in Windows 10, and will have a different user interface dependent on what application you are using, however each application available commercially today has this capability.
1:Real-time protection is on and select settings
2: Select Add an Exclusion
3: Add each of these folders as an exclusion
Internal Standard Retention Time and Peak Width Diagnostic Chart
This a useful and simple report that is best viewed in Excel.
Click here to download the zip file:
Internal Standard Retention Time and Peak Width At Half Height
Place in the folder: C:\TraceFinderData\4.0\Templates\ReportTemplates
The chart shows the Retention Time and the Chromatographic Peak Width at Half Height, in a line chart over the entire batch. It should show you the performance of the internal standard and the reliability of the chromatographic conditions. A moving retention time and/or a widening of the chromatographic peak may indicate issues with the columns or mobile phase. This is useful in determining the health of the system and variability of the assay over time.
The Chromatographic Peak Width can be attained by setting the conditions in the detection portion of the method as shown below. You can change the width measurement to be any desired value. Default is 50% of peak height, though 25% may better gauge peak fronting or tailing.
The report is currently set up to show 59 samples from the data table. If your data set is typically large or smaller you can adjust the ending row in the series section of the chart dialog. Simply open the editor for this report, double click on the chart and the dialog will open as shown below. Expand the section for the Data Source/Series and enter your typical ending row. Any empty cells will not be charted.
Residuals Chart Report Template
In many instances, individuals wish to see the residual values of their calibration curves. This plotted chart may give a better visualization of how the curve is actually performing versus the singular R-squared value.
Click here to download the report templates for data that contains either internal or external standard curve types: Residual Chart Reports
Extract the files to the file location: C:\TraceFinderData\4.0\Templates\ReportTemplates
For use with TraceFinder 4.0 and later versions.
Presented are charts in both natural and logrithmic scales. If you only require one type of chart, the delete the one not desired and resize to meet your needs.
The chart will automatically adjust for a normal amount of calibration standards or a large validation set.
Internal Standard Charting Report – TF 4.1
This a useful and simple report that is best viewed in Excel.
Click here to download the zip file: Internal Standard Response Chart
Place in the folder: C:\TraceFinderData\3.3\Templates\ReportTemplates
The chart shows the response in a line chart over the entire batch. It should show you the performance of the internal standard and if you have carry-over in samples such as a Solvent or Double-Blank sample. This is useful in determining the health of the system and variability of the assay over time.
The report is currently set up to show 59 samples from the data table. If your data set is typically large or smaller you can adjust the ending row in the series section of the chart dialog. Simply open the editor for this report, double click on the chart and the dialog will open as shown below. Expand the section for the Data Source/Series and enter your typical ending row. Any empty cells will not be charted.
How to use the Threshold Sample in Comparative View
To utilize comparative view to its fullest, one must set 3 three properties.
- Method-Limits-Threshold setting – this setting allows the user to set the height of the horizontal threshold bar in data review. There are two settings.
- Threshold – a fixed peak height amount
- % of Threshold the Sample – dynamic threshold according the peak height of the specified Threshold sample, as described below.
- Batch view-samples-groups column – this setting assigns samples to groups that are displayed horizontally in the comparative view peaks panel. A unique alpha numeric symbol is used to assign a sample to a group. Each sample with the same symbol is a member of that group. The samples are shown side by side in the peak review panel and are ordered left to right by descending order in the sample grid above.
- Batch view-threshold samples – the setting allows the user to assign a threshold sample for each group. Any member of the group can be set as the threshold sample. However, only one sample can be utilized at a time in the group. If you want one particular sample to be used as the threshold across the batch make sure it is a member of all the group. For example if you used numbers for the group name and you have 10 groups, the entry for this sample in the groups column would be 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.
The settings in the examples above allow for the display shown below.
The tall red vertical bar marks the expected retention time and the smaller vertical bars are the edges of the retention time window. Both set in the method parameters for each compound. This allows you to see the drift of chromatography within the sample group. The horizontal red line is the threshold as set in the method as a fixed amount or relative percentage of the threshold sample, as set in the method.
A point to note, there were a few instances where everything was setup properly but nothing displayed in the Comparative view. It was found that some older video drivers not comply with technologies Microsoft used to render the images in this complex grid. However, the issue was fixed in all cases by updating to the latest video drivers for the PC.
Ion Ratios – How the range is calculated in the Methods, with added twist in TF 3.3
TraceFinder has 4 functions for ion range calculations.
1) Manual – This functions as the name implies, it allows the user to define a targeted ratio by manually entering it in the ratios section of the detection tab of the confirming ions of a compound.
2) Average – This functions allows the data to drive the targeted ratio of each confirming peak by averaging the detected peaks for each confirming ion in each component from the calibration curve and applying the average as the target ratio. This is useful in many clinical experiments where response may be variable across sample sets.
3) Weighted Average – Performs the same function as Average with the exception that it weights the bottom end of the curve in the calculation of the target amount. This is useful in assays where the expected amounts in the unknown sample types are typically on the lower end of the calibration range.
4) Level – This selection allows the user to select a level from the calibration curve as the target ratio reference. In some labs the SOP’s require that a specific calibration point be compared for the batch of samples.
The selection of 2-4 are widely used in the applied markets. This relieves the use of having to perform the calculations manually outside of the application and then hand entering the data.
Also to note is that if you are working in a batch of samples such as a verification samples set. You may use settings 2-4 to calculate the values then changes the setting to manual. This action keeps the calculated value in the target field. you can then update the Master Method template and use these ratios for all validated batches to follow.
TraceFinder 3.3 has the benefit of being able to store the ion ratio criteria in the Compound Database so that you may perform quick holistic edits or use the same criteria in different assays without recalculating the values and manually entering them. As with the methods themselves, each ratio has properties that can be set as:
- Window Type – How to calculate the width of the range around the target ratio
- Ratio Window – The amount of the range
- Coelution Value – The amount in time that the peak apex of the confirming ion can be different from the quan peak.
The file hyperlinked below is an example CSV file template for a compound database for TraceFinder 3.3. This file will allow you to record settings from other methods. If you are transferring from one instrument platform to another, this enables you to quickly create the same method in TraceFinder.
Click here to download the ZIP file -> Default
As a reminder TF can group in the CDB and the Method up to 6 components as individual integrated quantitative peaks under the compound name. This allows the peaks to be viewed and manually manipulated individually in data review but the responses summed as the total response of the compound. Each of the 6 quantitative peaks may have up to 10 confirming peaks with individual ratios and ranges. (A key note is that the Quantitative peaks need NOT be coeluting. (ie.. Chiral compound analysis)) This feature is mostly when using GC EI experiments or LC experiments with multiply charged components.
TraceFinder 3.2 – Method Setup Tweak – Threshold Setting
There have been a few questions on the issue of peaks not being integrated, while performing quantitation, although the signal is strong. A reason could be that when a compound is created in the method, it has a related compound database entry for a threshold setting. This setting is used in targeted screening but is not editable in quantitation mode.
The setting has a default value of 5000 for calculated peak area. This setting does have a global override in the Local and Master method Processing section. The default value is unchecked and blank. This means the default threshold is 5000 for all peaks. If you are having an issue where the peak is not integrated but has a strong signal, then change the setting by checking the box and entering a new value such as 0 or 500. The data will need to be reprocessed as this value is not automatically applied.
TraceFinder 3.2 – New Quick Acquisition for Method Development
In previous versions of TraceFinder, there existed the Development Batch under the Method Development Mode of the application.
TraceFinder 3.2 has been replaced with a new Quick Acquisition button in the toolbar and in the Tools menu items.
This allows the user to acquire a sequence of files and open them in either Qual Browser or FreeStyle, from any view or mode.
The main benefit is that the user can perform method development or simply acquire a file to test the system. This is done without having to utilize batch processing to get an quick answer to the question.
Video player has changed. If the picture appears blurry, in the top right hand corner of the player you can enable HD to play back high resolution video.
TraceFinder 3.2 – New Instrument Method Managed Location
In previous versions of TraceFinder, the Instrument Method utilized for data collection was required to belong in the c:/Xcalibur/Methods directory folder.
In TraceFinder 3.2, the new location for the Instrument Methods is located under the C:/TraceFinderData/Instrument Methods directory folder.
Since TF has is a “managed systems”, meaning that we provide the unique capability of synced updates and other functions the Instrument Method, we have a need to know where the method is at all times.
Therefore, the use of the managed directory is a requirement. By moving the Instrument Method for TraceFinder into it’s unique folder, it allows you the freedom to use any folder for method development purposes.
When you have the final version for use in data collection simply save the “.meth” file into the C:\TraceFinderData\Instrument Methods directory folder, so that it will be used as a template for all the sample sets going forward.
Troubleshooting – Windows 7 Themes Performance Issues
Change the theme to improve performance
If your computer is working slowly, you might see a message saying that the theme is using most of its allowed memory. If this happens, you can change to the Windows 7 Basic theme or a high-contrast theme to improve performance.
If you change the theme to Windows 7 Basic, you will no longer get the full Aero experience. Aero is the premium visual experience in this version of Windows. It features a transparent glass design, window animations, Aero Flip 3D, and live window previews.
To change the theme
- Open Personalization by clicking the Start button
, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type personalization, and then click Personalization. - Under Basic and High Contrast Themes, click Windows 7 Basic or one of the High Contrast themes.
TraceFinder: Direct Knowledge 