This application note discusses the use of ChemStation Plus and Agilent column ID tags for easier handling and compliance in regulated laboratories. It addresses the common problem of storing and tracking chromatography columns in laboratories, and introduces a convenient and compliant solution based on RF tags provided by Agilent Technologies.
Agilent Technologies provides a solution for regulated laboratories using RF tags attached to columns, antennas built into the Agilent 1100 Series column compartment, and control through Agilent ChemStation software. This system addresses the time-consuming process of manually tracking column usage and verifying performance before every run.
The technology allows the system to read and write information such as product number, serial number, geometry, and maximum operating limits directly to an electronic tag on the column. The ChemStation Plus software automatically increments a counter for the number of injections after every run, creating a detailed history that ensures accurate calculations of performance parameters like k' and theoretical plates.
The system reads the tag to get the product number, serial number, batch number, geometry, stationary phase, particle size, number of injections, maximum pressure, maximum temperature, maximum pH, and column void volume.
A counter monitors the number of injections and increments it automatically after every run.
The maximum pressure rating for the example column is 350 bar.