Waters Unveils Xevo TQ Absolute XR Mass Spectrometer at ASMS 2025: Zero Signal Decay After 20,000+ Injections, Redefining Sensitivity and Reliability in Targeted Quantitation

"XR stands for unquestionable reliability," said Dr. Rowan Moore, Waters' Global Senior Director of Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry Products. The Xevo TQ Absolute XR is designed for high-throughput laboratories requiring large-scale compound analysis, switching between positive/negative ion modes for screening, ultra-sensitive quantitation, and handling complex matrices (e.g., food, environmental, pharmaceutical).

The Impossible Trade-off

Historically, users faced a persistent dilemma: sacrificing either sensitivity or stability. Technical limitations made it nearly impossible to achieve both simultaneously.

Sensitivity enhancements often rely on specific designs—orthogonal ion source cones to optimize ion trajectories and reduce noise, or electrostatic lenses to maximize ion transmission. However, these very features accelerate quadrupole contamination. As more ions (including impurities) enter the system, contaminants accumulate on the quadrupole rods, degrading both sensitivity (reducing low-abundance analyte detection) and stability (increasing data variability). This compromise forced users to prioritize one parameter over the other, limiting analytical potential.

Breakthrough Innovation

Waters’ R&D team identified a critical issue in tandem quadrupole MS: during precursor ion selection in Q1, some ions collide with the rods. Over time, these collisions deposit low-volatility, high-mass contaminants that impair performance.

The solution? The StepWave XR ion guide. Its intelligent ion routing technology applies DC voltages to deflect high-mass interference ions away from Q1, preventing contamination at the source. Additionally, its energy-stepping design transmits only charged ions while expelling neutrals, further minimizing fouling.

50% Smaller, 6x More Stable

With StepWave XR, the Xevo TQ Absolute XR achieves:

• 6x greater stability via contamination-resistant design, reducing downtime.
• Unmatched sensitivity for trace-level quantitation in pharmaceuticals, environmental analysis, and beyond.
• 50% lower utility consumption (power/gas) versus competitors, cutting costs and environmental impact.
• 50% smaller footprint, freeing precious lab space without compromising performance.

This leap forward eliminates the sensitivity-stability trade-off, empowering labs to push analytical boundaries.

(Key technical terms preserved: "quadrupole," "StepWave XR," "ion guide." Complex clauses restructured for readability while maintaining precision. Industry conventions followed, e.g., "6x" instead of "sixfold.")