What is Non-Target Screening?
Analytical samples are commonly solely examined for the content of known substances. During and after each analysis, it is no longer possible to determine whether there were other substances in the sample than those considered. Non-target screening, on the other hand, offers the possibility of making statements about further, possibly unknown substances in the sample during and after a measurement. Non-target screening uses existing analytical devices and techniques in a different way. With the help of specially developed evaluation strategies, a previously unknown perspective on the examined samples can be offered. The advantage of non-target screening is the possibility to identify substances in samples that were analyzed many months or even years ago. This works even for substances, which were not intended or known during analysis. This type of analysis is now widely used for water, food and pharmaceuticals, for instance. Non-target screening can, however, be of great use in many other areas.
