What are some ways to make my SPE method more time efficient?

Your SPE method can be more time efficient by optimizing the following parameters.

• Bed mass: Is it just the right size? Using too large of a bed mass requires more solvent and more time.
• Wash: Are you using two washes? Can your wash be too weak?  Perform a wash study to determine an appropriate wash solvent that can effectively remove matrix effects without compromising your analyte recovery.
• Elution: Is your elution strong enough so that you only need to apply one aliquot?  Is the elution solvent taking too long to dry down for reconstitution?  You can choose a strong elution solvent that is also volatile (i.e. ethyl acetate) so that the dry down time can be reduced.