TLC Explorer service and support
The TLC Explorer Documentation System is an advanced instrumental and software solution designed to provide a reliable TLC plate analysis. The device offers both visual check and software-based thin layer chromatographic analysis along with quantification. It can analyze one or more TLC plates with an area of up to 20 × 20 cm. In addition, the system uses three types of LED light sources— white light (visible spectrum), UV-A (wavelength of 366nm), and UV-C (wavelength of 254nm), to illuminate the plates from an overhead position in direct-light mode and identify distinct substance classes.
The TLC Explorer has been recognized by Select Science® as the “Best New Analytical Science Product of 2025”, an award nominated and voted for by scientists worldwide. This recognition highlights its role in enabling efficient and reliable TLC plate analysis.
Need assistance? Click here for the user manual guide.
TLC Explorer updates
Save your time by downloading the free upgrades to keep the pre-programmed methods up-to-date and unlock new features to improve the system’s usability in your laboratory. Please find the latest free software listed below.
New IQ/OQ kit for TLC Explorer
The IQ/OQ kit for TLC Explorer helps laboratories in regulated environments perform reliable equipment validation by supporting Installation Qualification (IQ) and Operational Qualification (OQ) of the TLC Explorer system. IQ and OQ are essential validation steps for analytical instruments in regulated industries. The IQ/OQ kit includes all required components to support convenient and straightforward device qualification.
Kit components:
- Installation Qualification (IQ) documentation: Enables a quick verification of the physical setup.
- Operational Qualification (OQ) documentation: Focuses on functional performance. It involves semi-automated testing of the TLC Explorer under different operating conditions to verify that all subsystems perform as designed.
- Validated test sheet A: For homogeneity control
- Validation test sheet B: For camera (sharpness) control
- Software feature: Available for free download at SigmaAldrich/TLCservice to perform the OQ testing
Available soon: Full validation offering
In regulated laboratories, analytical results must be more than accurate. They must also be attributable, traceable, and protected against unauthorized or inappropriate changes.
The 21 CFR Part 11 software for TLC Explorer provides a controlled environment for managing TLC-related data and records. It is designed to support consistent workflows for data acquisition, review, approval, and reporting—subject to the laboratory’s intended use, procedures, and validation requirements.
Our 21 CFR Part 11 software, IQ/OQ Kit, and Validation Package for TLC Explorer are designed to help laboratories strengthen data integrity and workflow control when TLC Explorer results support quality or release-related activities.
For further information please contact our TechService.
Related products
Related resources
- Article: Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
Choose from classical TLC plates with silica, aluminum, glass, and plastic backings as well as HPTLC plates, MS-Grade TLC and HPTLC plates, and PLC plates.
- Guide: TLC Explorer: Software Update Guide
How to update the TLC Explorer software.
Related Video
A step-by-step tutorial video showing TLC Explorer Software, covering user setup, settings navigation, image capture, wavelength selection, track integration, data evaluation, annotations, track comparison, quantification, and report generation for TLC plate analysis.