Market Analysis and Perspectives Interview Guide

Sample Preparation Technology

 

1.    What types of samples are you analyzing?

Body Fluids: (i.e. Urine, Blood, etc.)
Environmental Samples: (i.e. air, water, wastewater, sludge, soil etc.)
Organics: (i.e. Pharmaceuticals, small molecules, gas, oils, etc.)
Inorganics: ( i.e. Salts, Metals, etc.)
Polymers/Plastics/Rubber : (i.e. Polypropylene, etc.)
Foods: (i.e. Carbohydrates, fats, dairy, milk, flour, wheat, etc.)
Other  

2.    In an average week, how many samples do you typically analyze? 

  Less Than 25   25-50   51-100   101-250
  251-500   501-750   751-1000   1000+

3.    Over the last few years, has the number of samples your lab analyzes increased, decreased, or stayed about the same?

4.    Do you expect the number of samples your lab analyzes this year to increase, decrease, or stay the same?

5.    What would you say is the most used instrument installed in your laboratory? (Check all that apply)

A. Liquid Phase

  HPLC

  LC/MS

  LPLC

  Ion Chromatography

  TLC

  Flash Chromatography

  Capillary Electrophoresis

  SPE

  LLE/Soxhlet

B. Gas Phase

  Gas Chromatography

  GC/MS

  Extraction

  Chemical Sensor (eNose)

 

 

 

 

 

C. Mass Spec

  Magnetic Sector

  LC/MS

  QTOF

  Maldi TOF

 

 

 

 

 

D. Life Science

  DNA Sequencer

  PCR

  Electrophoresis

  DNA Microarray

  Synthesizers

  Flow Cytometer

  Biosensor (SPR)

E. Molecular Spec

  Vis, UV-Vis

  Color Measurements

  Fluorescent

  NIR

  IR

  NMR

  Raman

F. Atomic Spectroscopy

  AA

  Arc-Spark

  ICP

  ICP-MS

  XRD

  XRF

  Elemental Analyzers

G. Surface Science

  Electron Microscope

  Confocal Microscope

  Scanning Probe Microscope

  Surface Analyzer

 

 

H. Physical Properties

  Calorimetry

  Particle Characterization

  Petroleum Analyzer

  Physical Testing

  Thermal Analysis

  Viscometer/Rheometer

I. Lab Automation

  Microplate Reader

  Liquid Handling

  Robotics

  Dissolution Testing

 

 

J. Other    

6.    What types of sample preparation technologies are employed for this instrument? (Check all that apply)

A. Extraction/Concentration

  Solid Phase Extraction

  Supercritical Fluid / Pressurized Solvent Extraction

  LLE/Soxhlet

  Distillation

  Volatile Extraction (Purge & Trap, Thermal Desorption, Head Space)

B. Chemical Changes

  Digestion

  Pyrolysis

 

 

 

 

 

 

C. Separation

  Filtration

  Centrifugation

  Purification Chromatography

 

 

 

 

 

D. Physical Changes

  Grinding Pulverizing, Blending Homogenizing

 

 

 

E. Life Science Prep Kits

  Protein (Proteomics / Immunoassay / 2D electrophoresis)

  DNA/RNA (PCR, Microarray)

 

F. Other    

7.    From which vendor(s) do you purchase these sample prep products (kits, reagents, equipment, etc.)?

Vendor 1
Vendor 2
Vendor 3

8.    On a scale from 1 to 5, how satisfied are you with this vendor's product(s)? (5 being very satisfied, 1 being very unsatisfied)

  1 2 3 4 5
Satisfaction

9.    What are some problems, obstacles, or challenges you experienced with your sample preparation apparatus? 

10.    In terms of your sample preparation instruments and supplies, does your lab tend to be loyal to any manufacturer? If so, which ones and why? Yes    No

Manufacturer: 
Comments:   

 

 

11.    On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you rate your level of satisfaction for the following with regards to your sample preparation methods. (5 being very satisfied, 1 being unsatisfied)

 

  1 2 3 4 5 N/A
A. Reagent Availability (lead time)
B. Lot to lot variability
C. Ease of Use
D. Price/Value
E. Sample Size/Volume
F. Automation
G. Throughput
H. Sample Prep Time
I. Overall Performance

12.    On average, how much time does it take to fully prepare samples?

13.    What factors affect your decision in the purchasing of a new sample preparation system? (Check 3 max)

  Proven Applications   Price
  Instrument Ruggedness   Vendor Reputation
  Chemical/Reagent Efficiency   Colleagues Recommendation
  Demonstrations   Ease of Use
  Quality   Speed
  Other:

14.    Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Agree Disagree Indifferent  

A. Automation improves precision and reproducibility of analytical results, and decreases error rate.

B. The automated instruments that my lab has evaluated do not fulfill my lab's needs (e.g. Throughput not high enough, too limited in their applications, etc.)

C. There are no automated instruments available for the type of sample preparation that we most desire to automate.

D. I have spent too much time setting up, optimizing, and 'tweaking' an automated instrument so that automation ends up not really being worthwhile.

E. Automated sample prep instruments are too expensive to justify buying.

 

15.    What are some aspects a vendor involved in selling sample preparation products needs to improve? (Check all that apply)

 

A. Product Availability
B. Cost
C. Information Availability
D. Instruction Manual
E. Ease of Use
F. Service
G. Other:

16.    In what industry (or business area) do you work?

Pharm/Biotech
Academia
Government
Environmental
Indep. Testing/Research
Chemicals
Polymers
Agriculture/Food & Bev.
Semiconductor/Electronics

17.    What is your labs primary function?

R&D
Discovery
QC/QA
Methods Development
Teaching
Analytical Service

18.    What is your labs primary focus?

Environmental
Life Science
Materials Analysis
Clinical
Forensics

 

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