Analytical Science in Switzerland: From Medieval Gold to Planetary Exploration
How Swiss innovators are pushing the boundaries of what we can measure and know
Introduction: The Swiss Precision in Analysis
In the meticulous world of analytical science, Switzerland has long cultivated a reputation for precision that extends far beyond its famous timepieces.
This is a field where chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering converge to answer one fundamental question: what is it, and how much is there? From ensuring the safety of pharmaceuticals and the authenticity of food to monitoring the health of our planet and even preparing for the search for life on others, analytical science provides the essential data that drives innovation, protects public health, and safeguards the environment.
Switzerland's contributions to this field are both deep and diverse, supported by a robust ecosystem that includes world-class universities, innovative industrial partners, and dedicated professional organizations like the Swiss Chemical Society's Division of Analytical Sciences (DAS), a forum for over 530 members 9 . This article explores the exciting frontiers of Swiss analytical science, highlighting how historical ingenuity continues to fuel modern discovery.
The Expansive Landscape of Swiss Analytical Science
The scope of analytical science in Switzerland is breathtakingly broad. Research and application span from the infinitesimally small to the planetary scale, often bridging fundamental academic research with direct industrial application.
A Multitude of Applications
Environmental Monitoring
Scientists are developing laser-based spectrometers to map localized methane emissions with unprecedented precision 8 .
Cultural Heritage
Analysis of Zwischgold, a medieval gilding material, has uncovered it as a sophisticated nanomaterial 8 .
Pharmaceutical Safety
The fight against counterfeit medicines uses mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy to identify falsified drugs 7 .
Space Exploration
Swiss researchers are developing laser-based mass spectrometry instruments for detecting signs of life on other planets 1 .
Key Institutions Driving Innovation
Centre for Analytical Chemistry
At ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, focusing on coffee analysis, environmental analytics, and sensor technology 3 .
Intertek
Advanced testing laboratory in Reinach providing GLP/GMP-compliant analytical services to the global pharmaceutical industry 7 .
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
Hosts Laboratories of Atmospheric Chemistry studying aerosol formation and its impact on climate .
A Deep Dive: Detecting Disease in a Single Breath
Few experiments better illustrate the elegance and potential of modern analytical science than the development of a breath-based test for detecting illnesses like COVID-19. This non-invasive method, developed in collaboration between the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), represents a paradigm shift in diagnostics .
The Experimental Methodology
Sample Collection
The subject simply exhales into a specialized collection device. This apparatus is designed to capture the alveolar breath—the air from the deep lungs that is most likely to carry volatile organic compounds (VOCs) resulting from metabolic processes or pathogen activity.
Pre-concentration
The breath sample is passed through a cartridge containing an adsorbent material. This trap captures and concentrates the VOCs, which are otherwise too dilute for direct analysis.
Thermal Desorption and Separation
The trapped VOCs are then released by heating the cartridge (thermal desorption) and injected into a Gas Chromatograph (GC). Inside the GC, the complex mixture is separated into its individual components as they travel through a long, narrow column at different speeds.
Detection and Identification
The separated compounds elute from the GC column and enter a Mass Spectrometer (MS). Here, they are ionized and fragmented, and the resulting ions are separated by their mass-to-charge ratio. This creates a unique "mass spectral fingerprint" for each molecule, allowing for its identification.
Results and Analysis: A New Diagnostic Paradigm
The most significant result of this experiment is not a single data point, but the proven capability to distinguish between the breath of infected and non-infected individuals based on a defined VOC profile. The key outcome is the diagnostic test's performance, which can be summarized by its sensitivity and specificity.
Performance Metrics of Breath-Based Diagnostic Test
| Metric | Description | Estimated Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | Ability to correctly identify those with the disease (true positive rate) | > 90% |
| Specificity | Ability to correctly identify those without the disease (true negative rate) | > 95% |
| Analysis Time | Time from sample collection to result | Minutes to a few hours |
Comparison of Diagnostic Methods
| Method | Sample Type | Invasiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Breath Analysis | Exhaled Breath | Non-invasive |
| PCR (Gold Standard) | Nasopharyngeal Swab | Invasive |
| Rapid Antigen Test | Nasal Swab | Less Invasive |
| Blood Serology Test | Blood Sample | Invasive (needle) |
Scientific Importance
The ability to detect a disease like COVID-19 through a rapid breath test opens the door to large-scale, frequent screening in public spaces like airports or schools, potentially revolutionizing how we manage infectious disease outbreaks. Furthermore, the underlying principle is not limited to a single virus. Different diseases, from various infections to certain cancers, are likely to produce distinct VOC profiles.
The Scientist's Toolkit: Essential Reagents and Materials
The breath analysis experiment, and analytical science as a whole, relies on a sophisticated arsenal of reagents and materials. These are the essential building blocks that enable precise and reliable measurements.
| Reagent/Material | Function in Analysis | Example Use-Case |
|---|---|---|
| Calibration Standards | Provides a known reference to quantify unknown samples; ensures instrument accuracy. | Used to create a calibration curve for measuring the exact concentration of a specific VOC in breath. |
| Chromatography Solvents & Columns | The mobile phase (solvent) and stationary phase (column) work together to separate complex mixtures. | High-purity solvents and a GC column separate the hundreds of VOCs in a breath sample into individual components. |
| Adsorbent Materials | To trap and pre-concentrate target analytes from a large volume of gas or liquid. | Used in the breath sampler to collect VOCs from liters of exhaled breath, increasing detection sensitivity. |
| Derivatization Reagents | Chemically modifies a compound to make it more detectable (e.g., more volatile for GC or fluorescent). | Not always needed, but can be used to transform non-volatile biomarkers into volatile forms for analysis. |
| Quality Control (QC) Materials | Validates the entire analytical process; ensures precision and reliability over time. | A control sample with a known amount of VOCs is run alongside patient samples to confirm the method is working. |
Hardware & Software
These reagents are part of a larger ecosystem of hardware (spectrophotometers, chromatographs, mass spectrometers) and software (Laboratory Information Management Systems - LIMS, Electronic Lab Notebooks - ELN) that ensures data integrity and workflow efficiency 4 .
Analytical Process
The combination of these tools enables the complete analytical workflow from sample collection to data interpretation, forming the backbone of modern analytical science in Switzerland and beyond.
Conclusion: Measuring for a Better Future
The journey of analytical science in Switzerland is one of constant refinement and expanding ambition.
From uncovering the material secrets of medieval artisans to developing tools that may one day find life on another world, the field is fundamentally about seeking deeper understanding through measurement.
The future, shaped by trends like increased automation, AI-driven data analysis, and the push for personalized medicine, will only increase the demand for the sophisticated, high-quality analytical work that Swiss institutions have mastered 4 . As these tools become ever more sensitive and accessible, they promise to further transform fields from medicine to environmental protection, proving that the ability to measure the world with precision is the first step toward improving it.