Lessons Learned from Instrumental Headaches

I run a mass spectrometry laboratory. Most days it’s no big thing. Other days, I regret my career path.

On Friday, all of my sample peaks disappeared.

Where are my peaks?? Crap. #realtimechem http://t.co/9gMxm8hpkj

— Penny Higgins (@paleololigo) July 5, 2013

I spent four more hours trying to fix the problem. I knew that something was clogged between the sample vial and the mass spectrometer and checked and adjusted everything I could think of.

In mass spectrometry, fixing one thing almost always results in breaking something else. #RealTimeChem

— Penny Higgins (@paleololigo) July 5, 2013

It was frustrating work. I broke several other things in the process, and then fixed them.

My initial thought was that the clog could be all the way down where the gas enters the mass spectrometer. Alas, I was afraid to check that connection, because I didn’t want to vent (lose the vacuum) the system.

In the end, I went home with the problem unresolved. It ruined my mood for the whole weekend.

On Monday, I came in and ordered some parts, thinking that’s where the clog was. I then proceeded to ignore the mass spectrometer until the next day when the parts arrived. I proceeded to take things apart and tested the one component I thought was the problem. It was fine.

So I took a deep breath and did what I should have done in the first place. I checked for a clog at the inlet of the mass spectrometer. It turns out I did not have to worry about venting the instrument. It turns out, there was a clog there all along…

That fixed, I spent a few hours fixing the problems created by Friday’s tinkering and today I’m back in business.

So I learned a few things:

1) Trust your gut.

Seriously, if you suspect the problem might be with part A, check that first, especially if it’s relatively easy to do so.

When we develop expertise in some field, we can’t always rationalize why we know something, but often (not always) our gut feeling is correct. This applies to any field, not just to the sciences or laboratory work. Anything. Accounting. Farming. You name it.

If you’ve been running the same mass spectrometer for eight years and think the clog is at the inlet to the mass spectrometer, you should check it. I’m beating myself now for that mistake.

If you’re not yet an expert then:

2) When troubleshooting, check all the easy stuff first.

For one thing it’s easier, and if the problem is there then, whew, problem solved. For another:

3) Many times, trying to fix one thing can result in something else breaking.

Mass spectrometers are full of tiny glass capillaries. These are little glass tubes about the size of coarse hair, like horse tail hairs. It’s flexible, but can shatter. And it’s a nightmare to replace. You don’t want to dig around in the depths of the mass spectrometer unless you really have to. So check the easy stuff first, even if you don’t think the problem is there, just to be sure.

Not everything in life is like a mass spectrometer, but certainly this principle has applications outside the lab. When you get to the point of maybe breaking other things, it might be time to take a break.

4) Walk away for a while when you start getting frustrated.

Once you’re frustrated, you’re probably going to do more damage than good. Plus, sometimes stepping away is what you need to restore focus on the problem and clarify where the solution lies.