Report № R-2603Issued12 MAR 2026Inspector04 · S.T.Pagesvi + 6
Subject of report
Agilent 1290 Infinity II
UHPLC.
On-site inspection of a pre-owned six-module UHPLC stack offered at bid auction (Boston, US). Performed against the OEM specification sheet over 1.5 days, with reference samples shipped ahead by the buyer.
BuyerPharma R&D · EU · redactedSourceBid auction · US · lot withheld for buyer privacyInspector visit1.5 days · Boston, US · 10–11 Mar 2026Unit age6 yr · 18 400 injections · 14 mo. since last CEClassificationConfidential · buyer eyes only · anonymised public sampleIssuerSigma Tech R&D Solutions Limited · CR 79446742 · HK SAR
The unit passes, with two conditions worth pricing in.
Mechanically the instrument is healthy. The binary pump, autosampler and column compartment all hold their respective specs across the protocol window — the unit ran reference samples for 24 hours without intervention.
Two findings warrant a price adjustment rather than a walk: the DAD lamp is at 71 % remaining hours (well above the 50 % we treat as a hard floor, but a replacement is within 12 months at normal duty cycle); and the outlet check valve on pump A shows a 3 % pressure ripple at high flow, marginal but recoverable with a $1 200 part.
Recommended bid is $75 500 against the listed ask of $84 000 — a 10.1 % delta that accommodates a DAD lamp replacement, an outlet check valve, and a $400 column shipping buffer.
Five test envelopes, run against the OEM spec sheet.
The unit was inspected at the seller's bench in Boston over two working days. Power, solvent, gas, and reference samples were arranged with the vendor ahead of the visit. No part was removed; covers were opened for serials, firmware, and visual inspection only.
Test envelopes
Envelope
Method
Reference
Note
Pump · pressure & flow
ASTM E1675
OEM § 4.2
Static and dynamic pressure across 5 setpoints; pulsation Fourier-analysed off the high-pressure transducer.
Autosampler · injection precision
Caffeine 100 µg/mL · n=6
OEM § 6.1
Buyer-supplied reference; RSD of peak area across six replicates and three vial positions.
Col. comp. · thermal
24 h hold @ 40 °C
OEM § 5.3
RTD probe at the column inlet; logged at 5 s intervals.
DAD · linearity & noise
254 nm · 0–2000 mAU
OEM § 7.2
Linearity vs. PEEK loop dilution; noise on baseline at 5 nm bandwidth.
Carry-over
BSA 1 mg/mL · blank cycle
OEM § 6.4
Buyer-supplied protein; sample → blank → blank; carry-over computed off second blank.
Inspection report · R-2603 · Agilent 1290 Infinity II UHPLCPage 4 / 6 · Test record
§ 3 · Test record · raw deviations
Every protocol point, every measured value, every reference.
Test item
Measured
Spec
Verdict
Note
Pump A · pulsation
0.47 %
< 0.5 %
✓ PASS
Fourier off HP transducer at 5 mL/min. Margin to spec is thin; revisit at next CE.
Pump A · outlet check valve ripple
3.1 %
< 2 %
⚠ COND
Recoverable with valve replacement (PN G1312-67411, $1 200). Budget for it; not blocking.
Pump B · pulsation
0.38 %
< 0.5 %
✓ PASS
Within spec. No action.
Gradient accuracy
±0.3 %
±1 %
✓ PASS
5–95 % B, 5 min, three runs. Repeatable.
Autosampler · injection RSD
0.42 % RSD
< 1 %
✓ PASS
Caffeine 100 µg/mL · n=6 · three vial positions. Well within spec.
Autosampler · carry-over (BSA)
0.0004 %
< 0.0005 %
✓ PASS
Needle wash protocol followed; no flag.
Col. comp. · Δ T over 24 h
±0.05 °C
±0.1 °C
✓ PASS
RTD at column inlet, 5 s logging. Steady.
DAD · noise @ 254 nm
8.2·10⁻⁵ AU
< 1·10⁻⁴
✓ PASS
5 nm bandwidth, 0.4 s response. Acceptable.
DAD · linearity (R²)
0.9998
> 0.999
✓ PASS
PEEK loop dilution, 8 points 0–2000 mAU.
DAD · lamp remaining hours
71 %
> 50 %
⚠ COND
Above the 50 % floor. Plan a replacement (PN G1314-64745, $2 200) within 12 mo. of normal duty.
Firmware · stack
D.08.02
≥ D.07
✓ PASS
All modules at consistent firmware. No mismatch.
Service log · gaps
14 mo since last CE
< 18 mo
✓ PASS
CE certificate present; log continuous.
Sigma Tech R&D Solutions · sigmatechrd.comR-2603 · Test record · 4/6
Inspection report · R-2603 · Agilent 1290 Infinity II UHPLCPage 5 / 6 · Signal capture
§ 4 · Signal capture · representative trace
DAD detector · caffeine reference · 24 h re-run.
Trace below is the DAD output at 254 nm during the third caffeine reference injection at the end of the 24-hour hold. Baseline drift, peak symmetry, and retention time match the OEM standard chromatogram within manufacturer tolerance.
The unit performs to specification across the protocol envelope. Two findings — DAD lamp at 71 % remaining hours, and outlet check valve A at 3 % ripple — do not block acquisition but justify a price adjustment and a small reconditioning budget.
Verdict
PASS · CONDITIONAL
2 of 12 protocol items flagged · neither blocking
Recommended bid
USD 75 500
−10.1 % vs $84 000 ask
Recond. budget
USD 3 400
DAD lamp · check valve · packing
Numerical breakdown
Listed ask price
$ 84 000
DAD lamp (PN G1314-64745) — replacement
− $ 2 200
Outlet check valve A (PN G1312-67411)
− $ 1 200
Column shipping buffer
− $ 400
Negotiation margin (1.7 %)
− $ 1 400
Recommended bid
$ 75 500
Risks & what we did not test
The instrument was not run with the buyer's intended HILIC column; if the application requires sub-2 µm phases at > 1 000 bar, repeat the pump pulsation test at the buyer's site after delivery. We did not inspect the autosampler thermostatic option (not fitted on this unit per OEM serial).
Recommend post-arrival re-verification at the buyer's site once the lamp and check valve are installed. We can dispatch the same inspector; budget $1 800 for a one-day return visit.
S.T.
Inspector of record · 04
12 March 2026 · Boston, US
[ Σ ]
Sigma Tech R&D Solutions Limited
CR 79446742 · BR 79446742-000-12-25-A · HK SAR
End of document · Sigma Tech R&D Solutions · sigmatechrd.comR-2603 · Recommendation · 6/6