Abstract: Techniques are described for matching a precursor ion with one or more related product ions. Input data sets are obtained from a plurality of injections. Each of the input data sets includes a same precursor ion and one or more product ions. The input data sets are normalized in accordance with a single retention time for the precursor ion. For each input data set, it is determined which product ions are within a predetermined retention time window with respect to the single retention time for the precursor ion. If a product ion is within the predetermined retention time window in at least one of the input data sets, it is determined that the product ion is related to the precursor ion. An apparatus for analyzing a sample includes a chromatography module, a mass-spectrometry module, and a control unit.

Abstract: A method of analyzing samples includes loading a sufficient quantity of the sample onto a trap column to overload the trap column; heating an analytical column and the trap column to a greater temperature than the analytical column; and pumping a solvent, to the trap column, having a solvent composition profile that, in cooperation with a temperature differential, causes at least some of the components to elute sequentially from the trap column to the analytical column and focus on the analytical column prior to eluting from the analytical column; or optionally: loading a small-molecule sample onto a cooled portion of an analytical column; heating the analytical column; and pumping a solvent, to the heated analytical column, to elute the components from the analytical column. Chromatographic separation includes: a trap column; a separation column; a trap-column heater; a separation-column heater; a solvent pump unit; and a control unit can be used.

Abstract: Techniques are described for matching a precursor ion with one or more related product ions, including providing a plurality of input data sets obtained from a plurality of injections, each of the plurality of input data sets including a same precursor ion and one or more product ions, normalizing the plurality of input data sets in accordance with a single retention time for the precursor ion, for each of the plurality of input data sets, determining which product ions are within a predetermined retention time window with respect to the single retention time for the precursor ion, and if a product ion is within the predetermined retention time window in at least one of the plurality of input data sets, determining that the product ion is related to the precursor ion having the single retention time