Waters has now introduced Symphony Data Pipeline software, a client-server application for laboratories acquiring and archiving large amounts of data. Symphony software automates the movement and transformation of large amounts of LC-MS data to speed up analytical workflows and save time, reduce human error, and liberate scientists from the mundane yet necessary tasks associated with managing data files.

“Just the simple step of being able to seamlessly and automatically copy raw files to a remote file location while a column is conditioning, maximizes the time we can use the instrument for analysis,” said Dr. Paul Skipp, director, Proteomics Research Centre, University of Southampton.

“Previously the mass spectrometer might stand idle for one to two hours while an operator copies data to a filestore in preparation for processing. With three Synapt mass spectrometers generating data 24/7 in our laboratory, this alone is a major advance,” he added.

Symphony Data Pipeline can create efficiencies for laboratories in other ways too. “We see great value in the modular nature of Symphony Data Pipeline. It allows us to rapidly develop and test new processes for handling experimental data, including real-time QC, prospective fault detection, and tools for ensuring data integrity. Not just that, but it can save months of processing time and, in combination with noise reduction, petabytes of file storage,” said Jake Pearce, Informatics Manager, MRC-NIHR National Phenome Centre, Imperial College, London.

Symphony software allows scientists to personalize the processing of their UPLC-MS data acquired by Waters MassLynx Mass Spectrometry Software. Once acquired, Symphony software executes actions against the data files. These actions could include moving the data file to a server; subtracting background noise; compressing, renaming and copying data; or running a series of executables on the data. Users can also design and implement their own set of data processing tasks. This series of operations, known as a pipeline, is set up by the operator and it occurs in the background as soon as the data is acquired by either a single PC, a network of PCs, or PCs connected to a network of laboratories.

Symphony Data Pipeline software is compatible with Microsoft Windows 7 (64 bit) professional edition operating system and is available immediately worldwide from Waters.