Cerno unveils breakthroughs in accurate small molecule and unknown compound identification at ASMS 2025

At the American Society of Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) Annual Meeting, in Baltimore, USA, Cerno will present new data describing significant improvements in the accuracy of unknown compound and trace ion identification. The Cerno team will also demonstrate their MassWorks and GC/ID software and meet with conference attendees.

These new findings are particularly impactful because they eliminate the longstanding tradeoff between speed, accuracy, and accessibility in mass spectrometry. By delivering high mass accuracy and spectral fidelity on widely available instruments — including unit-resolution systems, Cerno’s software makes advanced unknown compound and trace ion identification practical without the need for specialized or high-cost equipment. This unlocks new capabilities for scientists across life sciences, environmental testing, consumer goods, and chemical and material sciences, enabling faster, more confident decision-making in areas ranging from drug development and diagnostics to environmental monitoring and quality control.

The data will be shared during two poster sessions:

Combining High and Low-Resolution Data for Confident Unknown Identification

Cerno, in collaboration with the University of Connecticut, presented a new workflow that pairs high-resolution mass accuracy with low-resolution spectral accuracy in a single LC/MS run. Using MassWorks^®, the team achieved unique elemental composition identification in all 26 test compounds — something not possible with high-resolution alone.

By harnessing the strengths of both scan types, the approach reduces ambiguity and enables more definitive compound ID on standard mass spec systems, making high-confidence results more accessible and cost-effective.

Bringing High-Accuracy Trace Ion Analysis to Unit-Resolution IC-MS

In a joint study with Metrohm and Agilent, Cerno showed how its MassWorks^® software dramatically improves quantification and trace ion identification on unit-resolution ion chromatography–mass spectrometry systems. Researchers achieved <0.006 Da mass accuracy and >98.5% spectral accuracy, enabling clear separation of overlapping signals — even amid complex interferences.

The result: more reliable detection of contaminants like perchlorate and enhanced precision in pharmaceutical and environmental testing, without requiring high-end instrumentation.

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