Lithium-rich samples, high TDS, or aggressive digestions degrade the quartz in ICP-OES torches through devitrification in a matter of days. We explain the mechanism and how Agilent's ceramic outer tube increases lifespan tenfold compared to conventional quartz.

In the laboratory, the biggest problems rarely come from a big mistake, like small and routine decisions that we have incorporated. We review the five most frequent errors —from the state of the freezer to the quality of the RNA— and how to avoid them to protect your work, your time and the reliability of your data.

Mycoplasma is one of the most frequent and difficult-to-detect contaminants in cell culture: invisible under a microscope and capable of skewing results for weeks. We'll review what it is, why it compromises reproducibility, and how to detect it with the naked eye using a colorimetric assay.