Thermo Scientific DFS Software Package - Thermo Scientific DFS SmartTune Operating Software and Thermo Scientific DFS TargetQuan Data Evaluation Software

Importance of the Topic

Dioxins and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic compounds that pose serious risks to human health and the environment. Accurate and compliant quantification of these substances in food, feed and environmental matrices is essential to meet regulatory standards and safeguard public safety.

Objectives and Overview

This study introduces the Thermo Scientific DFS Software Package designed to support routine quantification of dioxins and POPs using a Magnetic Sector GC-HRMS. The main goals are to automate workflows, ensure regulatory compliance and maintain data reliability in high-throughput laboratory settings.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The analytical workflow integrates hardware and software components:

• DFS Magnetic Sector GC-HRMS platform for high-resolution separations and mass detection.
• DFS SmartTune Operating Software for instrument optimization, daily calibration and method development.
• DFS TargetQuan Data Evaluation Software for isotope dilution-based quantification of dioxins and other POPs, with transparent LOD and LOQ calculations.

Advanced features such as Smart MID enable stable performance in complex matrices by mitigating matrix effects during calibration.

Main Results and Discussion

The DFS Software Package demonstrated:

• Robust instrument tuning and troubleshooting via SmartTune, reducing downtime and ensuring consistent sensitivity.
• Transparent noise assessment and automated signal/noise calculations in TargetQuan, supporting compliance with official LOQ/LOD criteria.
• Flexible configurations—single or dual-GC setups and a DualData XL option—to enhance throughput and analytical flexibility.

A chromatogram display with dynamic noise range visualization further aids in method validation and data review.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Full compliance with global regulations for dioxins and POPs monitoring in food, feed and environmental laboratories.
• Automated workflows that increase efficiency and reduce manual data handling errors.
• Scalable configurations to match laboratory throughput demands, from routine testing to high-volume analyses.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging opportunities include integration of AI-driven data evaluation, cloud-based method sharing and predictive maintenance. Continued enhancements in software automation and connectivity are expected to further streamline routine POPs analysis and support real-time decision-making in regulatory and industrial contexts.

Conclusion

The Thermo Scientific DFS Software Package sets a new standard for dioxin and POPs analysis by combining robust GC-HRMS performance with comprehensive software automation. Its advanced features ensure reliable, compliant results across diverse sample types and laboratory configurations.