Is AP/MALDI a high throughput method?
AP/MALDI is definitely much faster than LC-ESI-MS. The rapidity of AP/MALDI depends on the instrument used, but in general with an ion trap, a typical MS analysis can be done within 10 to 20 sec. A data dependent MS/MS analysis can take 30-50 sec. This is still fast enough to complete MS/MS analysis of all samples on a 96-spot target plate in 30-60 minutes using the automated mode of analysis. Furthermore, we have recently introduced “AP/Loader”, a multi-plate sampling system, with a magazine capacity of 20 plates, allowing unattended 24 hour operation of 1000s of sample spots. Once again, avoiding the complexity of vacuum and operating at ambient pressure allows the AP/Loader system to be fast and high throughput.
