Troubleshooting Process Chart
- Probable Instrument Fault
- Correct / Change Set-up & Re-run Analysis
- Probable Methodology Fault
- Leak in System - Pump Fault
- Detector Fault or Injector Fault
- Pump Fault or Column Compartment Fault
- Autosampler Fault
- Improve Method
- High Back Pressure Issues
- Run a Known Method on the System
- Look for Differences Between Systems
- Probable Instrument Fault
- Correct / Change Set-up & Re-run Analysis
- Probable Methodology Fault
- Leak in System - Pump Fault
- Detector Fault or Injector Fault
- Pump Fault or Column Compartment Fault
- Autosampler Fault
- Improve Method
- High Back Pressure Issues
- Run a Known Method on the System
- Look for Differences Between Systems
Step 3 – Question the methodology
If everything appears to have been run & prepared correctly – it’s time to separate science from engineering (i.e. method from instrument):
- Is there evidence that the chemistry is correct (i.e. method validation)?
- Is the problem isolated to a single instrument / configuration of instrument?
- If its routine analysis, is the analysis failing on more than one system?
- Has the method been adjusted / tweaked?
- Has the analysis worked on this instrument before?
