Waters Launches Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD Mass Spectrometer

Waters Corporation (Milford, MA, USA) has introduced the Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD Mass Spectrometer at the ADLM 2026 Annual Meeting. The new platform expands the company’s MassTrak IVD System portfolio of LC-MS/MS systems with a solution designed to deliver class-leading sensitivity and improved robustness for clinical applications.

The Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD is designed to detect and quantify analytes present at very low concentrations in complex biological samples. According to Waters, it provides up to five times greater sensitivity than comparable IVD-compliant tandem quadrupole instruments, enabling lower detection limits and reliable analysis using smaller sample volumes.

Potential applications include measuring low concentrations of estradiol for women’s health and hormone-related cancer assessment. The system can also support hair toxicology testing for detecting drugs of abuse and documenting long-term exposure.

The instrument incorporates the new StepWave XR Ion Guide, which is designed to maintain ion-ratio consistency for up to six times longer than the previous Xevo TQ Absolute IVD system. This improved robustness is intended to reduce downtime and provide more consistent performance when testing samples containing phospholipids, salts, and other matrix components.

The complete MassTrak LC-MS/MS IVD System pairs the Xevo TQ Absolute XR mass spectrometer with the ACQUITY UPLC I-Class PLUS System. Together, the technologies support rapid sample analysis, simplified characterization of complex specimens, and reliable performance in regulated, high-volume clinical laboratories.

“With the introduction of the Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD System, Waters is delivering a new standard of sensitivity and robustness that can significantly reduce downtime and improve laboratory productivity. Waters is uniquely positioned to help clinical laboratories develop reliable methods for complex analytes and expand their testing capabilities to meet growing demand across women's health, cancer assessment, and toxicology applications,” said Jianqing Bennett, Senior Vice President, Waters Advanced Diagnostics, Waters Corporation.

“The systems strengthen our analytical reliability, have the potential to greatly expand our substance testing capabilities, and improve operational efficiency. They deliver better signal stability and improved sensitivity, which is especially important when working close to decision cut-offs in complex matrices such as human hair. This gives us greater confidence in our results and provides additional assurance when measuring analytes at very low concentrations,” said James Nutt, Head of Laboratory Operations, Cansford Laboratories.