The Ultimate Guide to Mass Spectrometry in Mexico: Options, Pricing, and Affordable Service Providers

Discover mass spectrometry options in Mexico, including GC-MS, LC-MS, and ICP-MS.

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a critical analytical technique used for chemical identification, quantification, and molecular characterization in a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, food safety, environmental analysis, and forensic sciences. In Mexico, businesses and research institutions rely on MS for its accuracy, sensitivity, and versatility in detecting substances at trace levels.

Choosing the right mass spectrometry technique depends on the type of sample being analyzed, detection sensitivity required, and industry-specific regulations. This guide provides a detailed overview of MS options in Mexico, pricing estimates, and affordable service providers.

Types of Mass Spectrometry Services Available in Mexico

1. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) – Best for Volatile Compounds

GC-MS is a widely used hyphenated technique that combines gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) to analyze volatile and semi-volatile compounds. It is frequently applied in environmental analysis, forensic science, petrochemical industries, and food safety testing.

Key Benefits of GC-MS:

High Sensitivity and Selectivity – Capable of detecting substances at parts-per-billion (ppb) levels.
Ideal for Complex Mixtures – Can separate and identify multiple compounds in a single analysis.
Used in Regulatory Compliance – Applied in pesticide residue analysis, drug testing, and pollution monitoring.

Common Applications of GC-MS:

Food Safety Testing: Detects pesticides, flavor compounds, and contaminants.
Environmental Analysis: Measures air pollutants, hydrocarbons, and industrial byproducts.
Forensic and Toxicology Studies: Identifies drugs, poisons, and explosives.

Pricing for GC-MS Services in Mexico:

Basic Sample Analysis: $100 - $300 per sample.
Comprehensive Testing (Multiple Analytes): $300 - $600 per sample.

2. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) – Best for Non-Volatile and Complex Compounds

LC-MS is an advanced analytical technique that couples liquid chromatography (LC) with mass spectrometry (MS). It is widely used in biological, pharmaceutical, and environmental sciences due to its ability to analyze non-volatile, thermally unstable, and highly polar compounds.

Key Benefits of LC-MS:

Extremely High Sensitivity – Detects trace amounts of pharmaceuticals, metabolites, and pollutants.
Suitable for Large Biomolecules – Analyzes proteins, peptides, and nucleotides.
Broad Application in Drug Testing – Used in pharmacokinetics, doping analysis, and clinical diagnostics.

Common Applications of LC-MS:

Pharmaceutical Research: Drug development, metabolomics, and bioavailability studies.
Clinical and Forensic Toxicology: Detection of drugs, poisons, and steroids.
Food and Beverage Analysis: Identification of food additives, contaminants, and mycotoxins.

Pricing for LC-MS Services in Mexico:

Routine Drug or Contaminant Analysis: $150 - $500 per sample.
Advanced Metabolomic or Proteomic Profiling: $500 - $1,200 per sample.

3. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) – Best for Trace Metal Analysis

ICP-MS is a highly sensitive technique used for detecting metals and non-metals at trace levels. It is widely used in environmental monitoring, food safety, pharmaceuticals, and industrial materials testing.

Key Benefits of ICP-MS:

Ultra-Low Detection Limits – Identifies metals in the parts-per-trillion (ppt) range.
Multi-Element Detection – Analyzes multiple elements simultaneously in a single run.
Compliance with Regulatory Standards – Used in water testing, heavy metal contamination studies, and pharmaceutical quality control.

Common Applications of ICP-MS:

Environmental Science: Detects toxic metals in air, water, and soil samples.
Food & Beverage Industry: Measures arsenic, lead, and mercury in consumables.
Pharmaceuticals: Ensures compliance with heavy metal impurity regulations.

Pricing for ICP-MS Services in Mexico:

Basic Heavy Metal Screening: $200 - $400 per sample.
Comprehensive Multi-Element Analysis: $500 - $1,000 per sample.

Affordable Mass Spectrometry Service Providers in Mexico

1. Bruker Mexicana, S.A. de C.V.

Specializes in: Mass spectrometry solutions for pharmaceutical, food safety, and forensic applications.
Services Offered: GC-MS, LC-MS, and ICP-MS instrument sales and analytical support.
Location: Mexico City, Mexico.
Contact: +52 55 5601 2599 | ms.support.mx@bruker.com
Website: Bruker Mexico

2. Agilent Technologies Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.

Specializes in: High-performance mass spectrometry for research and industry applications.
Services Offered: Mass spectrometry equipment sales, maintenance, and sample analysis.
Location: Benito Juarez, Mexico City.
Contact: +52 55 1253 2153 | Lsca-Lar@agilent.com
Website: Agilent Mexico

3. JEOL de Mexico S.A. de C.V.

Specializes in: High-resolution mass spectrometry and electron microscopy.
Services Offered: MS instrument sales, analytical training, and technical support.
Location: Mexico City, Mexico.
Contact: Available upon request.
Website: JEOL Mexico

4. Laboratorios ABC

Specializes in: Chemical and microbiological analysis using mass spectrometry.
Services Offered: GC-MS, LC-MS, and ICP-MS testing for food safety, pharmaceuticals, and environmental monitoring.
Location: Nationwide service in Mexico.
Contact: +52 55 9140 1170
Website: Laboratorios ABC

Mass spectrometry is an essential tool for scientific research, quality control, and regulatory compliance in Mexico. Whether analyzing food contaminants, pharmaceuticals, environmental pollutants, or forensic samples, selecting the right MS technique is critical.

GC-MS is ideal for volatile and semi-volatile compounds in food safety and forensic testing.
LC-MS is widely used in pharmaceutical research and clinical diagnostics.
ICP-MS provides highly sensitive metal detection for water quality and industrial applications.

With multiple affordable service providers in Mexico, businesses and research institutions can access high-quality MS analysis at competitive prices.