A Cuegent pilot runs your real batches through new chromatography software alongside the review process you already trust. For one to three months, selected batches move through both workflows, your existing release process stays in control, and the comparison shows where Cuegent reached the same conclusion as your analysts. This guide walks through each stage of the pilot and what your team sees inside every batch.
If you are new to single-pass review, start with our guide to reducing chromatogram review time while keeping full oversight.
Why a Strong Chromatography Software Pilot Measures Agreement First
Fast review only matters once the result matches your analyst's expectations. So every Cuegent pilot proves agreement first.
A parallel run gives you that evidence on your own data. Each batch moves through your current process and Cuegent, and you compare the outcomes result by result. Where they differ, the difference becomes a rule to tune or a call your analyst confirms.
Time saved comes second. Design partners have typically seen review time fall between 33% and 75%, depending on batch complexity, and your pilot shows where your laboratory sits in that range.
The Four Stages of a Cuegent Pilot
The pilot follows the same four stages for every laboratory, whether you test cannabis potency, pesticide residues, or pharmaceutical QC samples.
| Stage | Your laboratory provides | Cuegent provides | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Send sample files | A few completed batches with method and QC data | Confirmation that Cuegent reads your files, method structure, and QC data | A clear read on fit, before any commitment |
| 2. Configure to your rules | Reporting limits, QC rules, and written procedures | Per-compound presets for settings, LOD/LOQ and ion ratios | A workspace built around your SOPs |
| 3. Run in parallel | Real batches, reviewed by your analysts | Single-pass processing with flagged exceptions | Side-by-side outcomes, batch by batch |
| 4. Review the evidence | One review session with your decision-makers | Agreement report, disagreement review, rule tuning | A decision built on your own data |
Configuration is where your laboratory's expertise enters the system. Cuegent reads each instrument's own method, then layers your limits and QC rules on top, so it works as laboratory workflow software shaped by your procedures from the first batch.
What a Parallel Batch Looks Like Inside Cuegent
Each pilot batch follows the path your analysts will use after rollout: ten steps from sign-in to a reviewed calibration, across three stages of access, batch intake, and review.
Batches arrive in a shared queue.
Cuegent collects finished batches from the folders your chromatography data system already writes to, so routine work arrives in the queue automatically. The analyst claims an available batch, which assigns it to one person for processing and review.
Your presets apply on import.
The analyst confirms three presets: peak detection and calibration settings, LOD/LOQ limits, and ion ratio rules. Defaults are pre-selected, so most batches need a quick check and one click.
The analyst reviews each quantifier.
After the single pass, review moves compound by compound. The Graph tab shows each peak against its expected retention time. If a peak needs work, the analyst adjusts a parameter such as smoothing width and recalibrates. The Table tab shows every sample's calculated concentration, and the Calibration graph confirms fit and weighting against your acceptance limit.
From a pilot batch: In a 14-file LC-MS/MS batch, the analyst reviewed the Aflatoxin B1 quantifier with its qualifier and internal standard. The 100 ppb calibration standard back-calculated to 100.80 ppb. An initial calibration verification sample at the same level read 45.83 ppb, so it surfaced for investigation before approval, and the analyst made the call.
What Your Team Receives at the End of the Pilot
The final stage turns weeks of parallel work into four pieces of evidence:
- An agreement report showing, batch by batch, where Cuegent reached the same conclusion as your analysts and where it differed
- A review of every disagreement, with the underlying data
- Rule-tuning recommendations based on your own methods and procedures
- Measured review-time savings on real work, in place of a generic estimate
To project the outcome across your full sample volume, the ROI Calculator converts your own review time and analyst count into hours returned.
Records and Validation During the Pilot
Cuegent is validated against your own quality system during the pilot, so QA can assess the new chromatography software as part of its computer system validation work. Every action carries a name and a time, every correction carries a written reason, and every original instrument file is kept unchanged behind its result.
These records support the expectations laboratories already work to: FDA's 21 CFR Part 11 on electronic records and signatures, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for testing laboratory competence, and FDA's December 2018 data integrity guidance, which sets the expectation that laboratory data stays reliable and accurate.
Start With One Real Batch
We run one of your batches through Cuegent alongside your current process and return the finished batch with its complete record, plus a costed assessment built from your own numbers.
Bring one real batchFrequently Asked Questions
How long does a chromatography software pilot take with Cuegent?
A Cuegent pilot typically runs one to three months. It starts with sample files, moves to configuration around your own rules, then runs real batches in parallel with your current process. The final stage reviews agreement, disagreements, and measured time saved, so your decision rests on your own data.
Does the pilot change how we release results?
Your release process stays in place throughout the pilot. Cuegent processes batches alongside your current workflow while your analysts review, sign, and release results the way they do today. Each pilot batch produces a side-by-side comparison, giving your team evidence before any change to live operations.
What data does our lab need to send to start?
Start with a few completed batches exactly as your instruments produce them, with the method and QC data behind them. Cuegent confirms it reads your files and method structure before configuration begins. LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and HPLC batches can all be part of the same pilot.
Who approves results during a Cuegent pilot?
Your qualified analysts approve every result. Cuegent measures, calibrates, and scores each batch against your rules and flags exceptions with a written reason. Every judgment, correction, and sign-off stays with a named person, and every result is reviewed and signed by a qualified person before release.