Pesticide Explorer Collection Solution

Enhance productivity, improve efficiency

For laboratories performing pesticide residue testing, the Thermo Scientific Pesticide Explorer workflow is a comprehensive set of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) solutions that offers enhanced productivity and improved efficiency. These solutions are intended for routine quantitation as well as targeted and non-targeted screening of pesticide residues in food matrices.

Choose from four start-to-finish workflows tailored to help food monitoring and testing laboratories reduce startup time and cost. These workflows implement with either triple-quadrupole or high-resolution accurate-mass (HRAM) Thermo Scientific Orbitrap mass spectrometer methods, enabling the detection and identification of pesticides in food matrices with unprecedented speed, ease, and confidence.

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The challenge

Over 1000 pesticides and their metabolites, consisting of >100 chemical classes, are used during food production and can be present in the environment and food we consume. This dictates routine food testing laboratories to analyze large sample sets with high levels of confidence, productivity, and adherence to regulations.

The solution

A comprehensive set of LC-MS solutions purposefully designed for laboratories performing routine quantitation as well as targeted and non-targeted screening of pesticide residues in food matrices.

Pesticide Explorer provides start-to-finish workflows tailored to help food monitoring and testing laboratories reduce startup time and cost. The collection provides compelling productivity and efficiency enhancements for both startup laboratories and laboratories, adding new analytical capabilities to address evolving customer and industry demands.

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Robust, routine workflows for triple quadrupole quantitation

The Standard Quantitation configuration provides everything needed to perform robust, routine workflows for SRM-based quantitation of pesticides, from the QuEChERS sample extraction kit to proven multi-class pesticide residue analysis methods. The pre-configured method for the solution is easy to access on the USB drive included with the Pesticide Explorer installation guide.

Standard Quantitation Configuration: Meet regulatory and high-throughput requirements with the extremely robust Thermo Scientific TSQ Quantis mass spectrometer.

The complete method includes acquisition, processing, and reporting for more than 500 pesticides for quantitation or screening purposes.

Targeted and non-targeted workflows using Orbitrap technology

HRAM Quantitation Configuration

The HRAM Quantitation Configuration provides high-resolution accurate mass analysis, a unique capability that enables quantitation without comproming sensitivity, accuracy, precision, or linear dynamic range. High resolving power is particularly useful for the analysis of contaminants in complex matrices and can overcome the masking effects of isobaric inferences, allowing detection of analytes at very low concentrations.

HRAM Screening & Quantitation Configuration

Data produced with this configuration can be used for highly-sensitive and selective quantitation as well for in-depth screening. Built-in databases designed for food safety and environmental analyses make quantitation, and targeted as well as non-targeted screening from a single data set seamless, with the option to reanalyze data retrospectively at a future date without the need for sample reinjection. Even without using reference standards, TraceFinder software allows the user to perform relative quantitation between multiple samples in their workflow.

Detection of Acetamiprid at 5 µg/kg in strawberry in full scan mode (70,000 FWHM) with mass accuracy of 2.2 ppm using external calibration. Identification of Acetamiprid using data-dependant MS2 at 35,000 FWHM.Detection of Acetamiprid at 5 µg/kg in strawberry in full scan mode (70,000 FWHM) with mass accuracy of 2.2 ppm using external calibration. Identification of Acetamiprid using data-dependant MS2 at 35,000 FWHM.

Complete Methods included for acquisition, processing, and reporting. Analyst can choose from two pre-set methods: a short high-throughput (containing 276 compounds) and longer, more comprehensive (containing 440 pesticides)

HRAM Library: Laboratories using Pesticide Explorer comprised of either the HRAM Quantitation or HRAM Screening and Quantitation Configurations will enjoy the time-savings provided by an “off-the-shelf” database of MS/MS spectra—no need to build your own libraries! To meet specific laboratory requirements, the libraries can be expanded and customized by adding new compounds and spectra.

Compound Classes Provided in the HRAM MS/MS Spectral Libraries

Compound Class
Food Safety and EnvironmentalForensic Toxicology
Emerging Environmental ContaminantsDrugs of Abuse
PesticidesNatural and Industrial Toxins
Veterinary DrugsPrescription Drugs
MycotoxinsPerformance Enhancing Drugs
Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs)Other Drug Monitoring Research

Unique Entries and Total Spectra in the HRAM MS/MS Spectral Libraries

Compound GroupingsUnique EntriesTotal Spectra
Environmental and Food Safety1,6348,906
Clinical Research and Forensic Toxicology9264,630
Robust, routine workflows for triple quadrupole quantitation

The Standard Quantitation configuration provides everything needed to perform robust, routine workflows for SRM-based quantitation of pesticides, from the QuEChERS sample extraction kit to proven multi-class pesticide residue analysis methods. The pre-configured method for the solution is easy to access on the USB drive included with the Pesticide Explorer installation guide.

Standard Quantitation Configuration: Meet regulatory and high-throughput requirements with the extremely robust Thermo Scientific TSQ Quantis mass spectrometer.

The complete method includes acquisition, processing, and reporting for more than 500 pesticides for quantitation or screening purposes.

Targeted and non-targeted workflows using Orbitrap technology

HRAM Quantitation Configuration

The HRAM Quantitation Configuration provides high-resolution accurate mass analysis, a unique capability that enables quantitation without comproming sensitivity, accuracy, precision, or linear dynamic range. High resolving power is particularly useful for the analysis of contaminants in complex matrices and can overcome the masking effects of isobaric inferences, allowing detection of analytes at very low concentrations.

HRAM Screening & Quantitation Configuration

Data produced with this configuration can be used for highly-sensitive and selective quantitation as well for in-depth screening. Built-in databases designed for food safety and environmental analyses make quantitation, and targeted as well as non-targeted screening from a single data set seamless, with the option to reanalyze data retrospectively at a future date without the need for sample reinjection. Even without using reference standards, TraceFinder software allows the user to perform relative quantitation between multiple samples in their workflow.

Detection of Acetamiprid at 5 µg/kg in strawberry in full scan mode (70,000 FWHM) with mass accuracy of 2.2 ppm using external calibration. Identification of Acetamiprid using data-dependant MS2 at 35,000 FWHM.Detection of Acetamiprid at 5 µg/kg in strawberry in full scan mode (70,000 FWHM) with mass accuracy of 2.2 ppm using external calibration. Identification of Acetamiprid using data-dependant MS2 at 35,000 FWHM.

Complete Methods included for acquisition, processing, and reporting. Analyst can choose from two pre-set methods: a short high-throughput (containing 276 compounds) and longer, more comprehensive (containing 440 pesticides)

HRAM Library: Laboratories using Pesticide Explorer comprised of either the HRAM Quantitation or HRAM Screening and Quantitation Configurations will enjoy the time-savings provided by an “off-the-shelf” database of MS/MS spectra—no need to build your own libraries! To meet specific laboratory requirements, the libraries can be expanded and customized by adding new compounds and spectra.

Compound Classes Provided in the HRAM MS/MS Spectral Libraries

Compound Class
Food Safety and EnvironmentalForensic Toxicology
Emerging Environmental ContaminantsDrugs of Abuse
PesticidesNatural and Industrial Toxins
Veterinary DrugsPrescription Drugs
MycotoxinsPerformance Enhancing Drugs
Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs)Other Drug Monitoring Research

Unique Entries and Total Spectra in the HRAM MS/MS Spectral Libraries

Compound GroupingsUnique EntriesTotal Spectra
Environmental and Food Safety1,6348,906
Clinical Research and Forensic Toxicology9264,630
Pesticide Explorer videos

The assets below include practical tools, demonstrations, and proven methods for pesticide residue analysis from Thermo Fisher Scientific and our partners that highlight the benefits of a portfolio of LC-MS instruments needed to meet global regulatory demands.


Ordering information

HRAM Quantitation

Part NumberDescriptionIncluded in Configuration
PE-OTVF-02Pesticide Explorer - HRAM Quantitation
BRE725535Orbitrap Exploris 120 MS (EASY-IC included)Y
5200.0225Thermo Scientific Vanquish Flex Binary UHPLC PumpY
OPTON-30427Pesticide HRAM Screening and Quantitation Software (Includes TraceFinder Software, HRAM Libraries, Methods and Documentation)Y
60105-PE2-BNDLThermo Scientific QuEChERS Extraction Start-up KitY
17326-102130Thermo Scientific Accucore aQ, 100 x 2.1 mm, 2.6 µm Particle Size (2 columns)Y
6040.2380Thermo Scientific Viper Capillary Stainless Steel Fingertight FittingsY
702-0277003-Day Training (NA Only)Y
LCMSKITFisher Optima Solvents (Water, Methanol, Acetonitrile) Starter KitOrder at FisherSci.com
20834Sample Prep Vials and Kits CatalogView Online

HRAM Screening & Quantitation

Part NumberDescriptionIncluded in Configuration
PE-QVFB-03Pesticide Explorer - HRAM Screening & Quantitation
BRE725535Orbitrap Exploris 120 MS (EASY-IC included) Y
5200.0225Thermo Scientific Vanquish Flex Binary UHPLC PumpY
OPTON-30427Pesticide HRAM Screening and Quantitation Software (Includes Compound Discoverer and TraceFinder Software, HRAM Libraries, Methods and Documentation)Y
60105-PE2-BNDLThermo Scientific QuEChERS Extraction Start-up KitY
17326-102130Thermo Scientific Accucore aQ, 100 x 2.1 mm, 2.6 µm Particle Size (2 columns)Y
6040.2380Thermo Scientific Viper Capillary Stainless Steel Fingertight FittingsY
702-0277003-Day Training (NA Only)Y
LCMSKITFisher Optima Solvents (Water, Methanol, Acetonitrile) Starter KitOrder at FisherSci.com
20834Sample Prep Vials and Kits CatalogView Online

HRAM Quantitation

Part NumberDescriptionIncluded in Configuration
PE-OTVF-02Pesticide Explorer - HRAM Quantitation
BRE725535Orbitrap Exploris 120 MS (EASY-IC included)Y
5200.0225Thermo Scientific Vanquish Flex Binary UHPLC PumpY
OPTON-30427Pesticide HRAM Screening and Quantitation Software (Includes TraceFinder Software, HRAM Libraries, Methods and Documentation)Y
60105-PE2-BNDLThermo Scientific QuEChERS Extraction Start-up KitY
17326-102130Thermo Scientific Accucore aQ, 100 x 2.1 mm, 2.6 µm Particle Size (2 columns)Y
6040.2380Thermo Scientific Viper Capillary Stainless Steel Fingertight FittingsY
702-0277003-Day Training (NA Only)Y
LCMSKITFisher Optima Solvents (Water, Methanol, Acetonitrile) Starter KitOrder at FisherSci.com
20834Sample Prep Vials and Kits CatalogView Online

HRAM Screening & Quantitation

Part NumberDescriptionIncluded in Configuration
PE-QVFB-03Pesticide Explorer - HRAM Screening & Quantitation
BRE725535Orbitrap Exploris 120 MS (EASY-IC included) Y
5200.0225Thermo Scientific Vanquish Flex Binary UHPLC PumpY
OPTON-30427Pesticide HRAM Screening and Quantitation Software (Includes Compound Discoverer and TraceFinder Software, HRAM Libraries, Methods and Documentation)Y
60105-PE2-BNDLThermo Scientific QuEChERS Extraction Start-up KitY
17326-102130Thermo Scientific Accucore aQ, 100 x 2.1 mm, 2.6 µm Particle Size (2 columns)Y
6040.2380Thermo Scientific Viper Capillary Stainless Steel Fingertight FittingsY
702-0277003-Day Training (NA Only)Y
LCMSKITFisher Optima Solvents (Water, Methanol, Acetonitrile) Starter KitOrder at FisherSci.com
20834Sample Prep Vials and Kits CatalogView Online
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