Waters Launches Industry's Most Sensitive and Robust Clinical IVD System with Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD Mass Spectrometer

• Brings Xevo™ TQ Absolute XR Mass Spectrometer's industry-leading tandem quadrupole MS sensitivity to clinical applications across women's health, cancer assessment, and toxicology.
• Offers 5x greater sensitivity vs. in-class instruments with lower detection limits in smaller sample volumes, introducing a step-change in analytical performance for complex biological matrices.
• Up to six-fold increase in robustness with StepWave™ XR Ion Guide vs. Xevo TQ Absolute MS, advancing laboratory productivity and performance consistency.

MILFORD, Mass., July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) 2026 Annual Meeting — Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) today announced the launch of the Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD Mass Spectrometer, expanding its MassTrak™ IVD System portfolio of LC-MS/MS Systems with a solution that combines class-leading sensitivity and enhanced robustness for clinical applications. The new system builds on the industry-renowned step-change performance of the Xevo TQ Absolute IVD Mass Spectrometer, which established the benchmark for sensitivity among IVD-compliant tandem quadrupole mass spectrometers.¹

Developed for routine laboratory testing requiring IVD-compliant systems, the Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD System delivers exceptional trace-level analytical performance in complex biological matrices. With up to five times greater sensitivity than other instruments in its class,¹ the system enables lower limits of detection and reliable quantification of challenging analytes from smaller sample volumes. This enhanced sensitivity is critical for applications requiring accurate measurement at very low concentrations, such as low-level estradiol testing for women's health and hormone-related cancer assessment,² and hair toxicology³ for detecting drugs of abuse and documenting long-term exposure.

"Waters' IVD Systems provide clinical diagnostic laboratories with highly precise and flexible solutions that help clinicians make informed decisions when every test matters," said Jianqing Bennett, Senior Vice President, Waters Advanced Diagnostics, Waters Corporation. "With the introduction of the Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD System, Waters is delivering a new standard of sensitivity and robustness that can significantly reduce downtime and improve laboratory productivity. Waters is uniquely positioned to help clinical laboratories develop reliable methods for complex analytes and expand their testing capabilities to meet growing demand across women's health, cancer assessment, and toxicology applications."

Featuring the new StepWave™ XR Ion Guide, the Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD System delivers improved robustness, enabling ion ratio consistency for up to six times longer compared with the Xevo TQ Absolute IVD System.⁴ This advancement gives laboratories greater confidence in consistent performance when analyzing complex clinical samples containing phospholipids, salts, and other matrix components.

"Having the Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD Systems in our laboratory is a major advancement for the company," said James Nutt, Head of Laboratory Operations, Cansford Laboratories. "The systems strengthen our analytical reliability, have the potential to greatly expand our substance testing capabilities, and improve operational efficiency. They deliver better signal stability and improved sensitivity, which is especially important when working close to decision cut-offs in complex matrices such as human hair. This gives us greater confidence in our results and provides additional assurance when measuring analytes at very low concentrations."

This new MassTrak LC-MS/MS IVD System includes the ACQUITY™ UPLC I-Class PLUS System with the Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD Mass Spectrometer. The ACQUITY UPLC I-Class PLUS System is designed to deliver fast, accurate sample analysis that enhances mass spectrometer performance and simplifies the characterization of complex samples. Together, the integrated system delivers industry-leading sensitivity, enhanced robustness for complex sample matrices, and a user-friendly design that helps maximize laboratory uptime.

The MassTrak LC-MS/MS IVD System with the Xevo TQ Absolute XR Mass Spectrometer is available to order now.

Additional Resources:

• Product Page
• Application Note: Utilizing the New Xevo TQ Absolute XR Mass Spectrometer for the LC-MS/MS Analysis of Serum Estrogens for Clinical Research
• Application Note: Extraction and Analysis of a Definitive Drug Panel in Hair Samples by UHPLC-MS/MS for Forensic Toxicology

Xevo, StepWave, MassTrak, ACQUITY, and Waters are trademarks of Waters Corporation or its affiliates. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

About Waters Corporation:

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) is a global leader in life sciences and diagnostics, dedicated to accelerating the benefits of pioneering science through analytical technologies, informatics, and service. With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, our innovative portfolio harnesses deep scientific expertise across chemistry, physics, and biology. We collaborate with customers around the world to advance the release of effective, high-quality medicines, ensure the safety of food and water, and drive better patient outcomes by detecting diseases earlier, managing routine infections, and combating antibiotic resistance. Through a shared culture of relentless innovation, our passionate team of ~16,000 colleagues turn scientific challenges into breakthroughs that improve lives worldwide. For more information, please visit www.waters.com/about. 

References:

1. Waters comparison of Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD vs. existing Waters Xevo TQ-XS IVD and the SCIEX 6500 IVD, which are the next two most sensitive IVD-compliant tandem quadrupole products currently available for commercial sale. 

2. Application Note: "Utilizing the New Xevo™ TQ Absolute XR Mass Spectrometer for the LC-MS/MS Analysis of Serum Estrogens for Clinical Research"; published May 20, 2026.

3. Application Note: "Extraction and Analysis of a Definitive Drug Panel in Hair Samples by UHPLC-MS/MS for Forensic Toxicology"; published June 10, 2025.

4. Application Note on Product Webpage. In a well-controlled experiment, performance was maintained for up to six times the duration on the Xevo TQ Absolute XR MS compared to the Xevo TQ Absolute MS; more than 12,000 samples of pesticides in fish feed matrix were analyzed.

Contact:
Molly Gluck
Head of External Communications
Waters Corporation
508.498.9732
molly_gluck@waters.com

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Waters Launches Industry's Most Sensitive and Robust Clinical IVD System with Xevo TQ Absolute XR IVD Mass Spectrometer

• Regulatory dossiers for Replexor Active submitted in Brazil and Australia; US and Argentina to follow in 2027
• Rounding out weed control spectrum, Replexor Active strengthens integrated PPO herbicide portfolio, helping growers maximize the value of their weed management programs
• Start of Replexor Active's registration marks another sign of strong crop protection innovation pipeline

LIMBURGERHOF, Germany, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BASF Agricultural Solutions has begun the registration process for Replexor™ Active (fendioxypyracil), a novel herbicide active ingredient from its protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) innovation pipeline with broad-spectrum activity on both broadleaf weeds and grasses. At peak adoption, Replexor Active could support weed management programs covering more than 50 million hectares globally. First regulatory dossiers are being submitted in Brazil and Australia in July 2026, with filings in the United States and Argentina planned for 2027. Pending approvals, BASF targets first market introductions of Replexor Active around 2030.

Herbicide-resistant weeds are a growing challenge for farmers of major crops such as soybean, corn, and cotton. At the same time, regulatory pressure is reducing the number of available active ingredients, further limiting effective control options.

In this context, PPO herbicides have been a reliable cornerstone of resistance management for more than 50 years. With Replexor Active, BASF extends that portfolio – which includes Kixor^® Active and Tirexor^® Active – with a new level of weed control. While most existing PPO herbicides primarily target broadleaf weeds, Replexor Active also controls key annual grasses such as Eleusine indica, Echinochloa spp., and Setaria spp. With PPO resistance in grasses remaining rare, Replexor Active adds a valuable new option for managing resistant grass weeds.

"Replexor Active fills a genuine gap in the PPO space," said Maximilian Becker, Member of the Management Board of BASF Agricultural Solutions, in charge of Business. "Growers have had very few new tools for resistant grasses in recent years. Replexor Active addresses that directly and fits into the resistance management programs growers are already building with our PPO portfolio."

In addition to its broad-spectrum activity, Replexor Active offers compelling benefits: it delivers fast-acting weed control and enables no-till farming practices, helping to minimize soil erosion. Furthermore, it is effective at low use rates, making it easier to handle while reducing the amount of active ingredient per hectare.

"The start of Replexor Active's registration process is another sign of our strong innovation pipeline," added Melanie Bausen-Wiens Member of the Management Board of BASF Agricultural Solutions, in charge of Technology. "It reflects our position as a leading player in crop protection and our ability to translate sustained R&D investment into new tools that address real challenges for growers. And with the PPO herbicide-tolerant traits we are developing, growers will have even more flexibility in how and when they apply Replexor Active."

About BASF Agricultural Solutions

Everything we do, we do for the love of farming. Farming is fundamental to provide sufficient and affordable food for a rapidly growing population, while reducing environmental impacts. That's why we are working with partners and experts to integrate sustainability criteria into all business decisions. With €990 million in 2025, we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, and our solutions are purpose-designed for different crop systems. Connecting seeds and traits, crop protection products, digital tools and sustainability approaches, to help deliver the best possible outcomes for farmers, growers and stakeholders along the value chain. In 2025, our business generated sales of €9.6 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or our social media channels.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers' green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 95,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €60 billion in 2025. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

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BASF Agricultural Solutions starts global registration of novel PPO herbicide Replexor™ Active