Dear Bruce !
With regard to purchasing a MALDI-TOF you should go for a reflector
instrument equipped with delayed extraction. According to my knowledge,
three models or manufacturers are to consider when it comes to high-end
research instruments, i.e. Bruker Biflex (Bruker, Germany), PE Perseptive
Biosystems STR (Perkin-Elmer US) or Micromass TOF Spec (Micromass UK).
The latest Perseptive model seems to offer good resolution but not an
outstanding sensitivity (as a matter of fact, there are experiences which
favour the previous model Voyager Elite).
The Bruker seems to be state-of-the-art concerning both, sensitivity and
resolution. The PE instruments were always easier to operate, i.e. the
software was easier to overlook, but Bruker seems to have caught up with
regard to this. Concerning reliability and maintenance, both machines do
not seem to differ very much.
I do not have any experience with the Micromass instrument, but this may be
a good choice as well.
Please, take this only as some general and preliminary comments. Ofcourse,
there is nothing beyond testing all three machines with a representative
set of your own samples. I highly recommend doing this...
However, good luck for your decision,
best regards,
Martin.
*****************************
Martin Kussmann, PhD
R&D, Protein Analysis /
Mass Spectrometry
CERBIOS-PHARMA S.A.
Via Pian Scairolo 6
CH - 6917 Barbengo (Lugano)
Switzerland
Phone: ++41 - 91 - 985 63 11
Fax: ++41 - 91 - 985 63 25
E-mail: rdbio2@cerbios.ch
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