Best of the Week: Computer Software Assurance (CSA) Guidance, XRF Instrumentation, Pathways in Spectroscopy

This week, Spectroscopy published a variety of articles highlighting recent studies in several application areas. Key application areas include data analysis and the regulatory environment, handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instrumentation, and entrepreneurship in spectroscopy. Happy reading!

Dracula Rises From The Grave: CSA Lives On?

In this “Focus on Quality” article, the authors examine the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 2025 Computer Software Assurance (CSA) guidance and its applicability to pharmaceutical laboratories. Using a spectrometer validation case study, the authors argue that CSA, which is designed for medical device production software, overlooks key elements of regulated computerized systems, including instruments, infrastructure, and user requirements.¹ They contrast CSA with established Computerized System Validation (CSV), emphasizing CSV’s documented requirements, traceable scripted testing, and demonstrated business benefits.¹ The review identifies 16 gaps and regulatory conflicts that complicate CSA adoption in pharma. Concluding that existing risk-based CSV already meets compliance needs, the authors caution against replacing it with CSA.¹

How Will Handheld XRF Instrumentation Shape Field-Based Elemental Analysis?

In this video interview, John Margeson, who is a product manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific, outlines enhanced software and connectivity features in the new XL5e and XL5e Plus handheld XRF spectrometers. Designed for modern quality and compliance workflows, the instruments integrate Wi-Fi for wireless data transfer to a PC companion application, enabling easier review, sharing, and archiving of scan results.² Built-in Bluetooth supports accessories such as external GPS units, barcode scanners, and portable printers, streamlining field and inspection operations. Margeson emphasizes that these updates reflect broader trends toward compact, highly integrated analytical tools that maintain advanced functionality while improving usability and data management.²

Interlaboratory Assessment of Micro-XRF Silicon Drift Detector Systems for Forensic Elemental Analysis of Electrical Tape Evidence

In an interview with Spectroscopy, forensic scientist Lacey Leatherland discusses a large interlaboratory study evaluating modern micro-XRF silicon drift detector (SDD) systems for discriminating electrical tape evidence. Across eight laboratories, micro-XRF (μ-XRF) demonstrated reliable, non-destructive elemental profiling of PVC tape backings with greater sensitivity and trace-element detection than scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS).³ Leatherland explains that photon excitation, low-noise SDD design, and small spot sizes improve signal-to-background ratios and throughput.³ The study also highlights the need for standardized protocols, matrix-matched polyvinyl (PVC) standards, and quantitative similarity metrics such as spectral contrast angle ratio (SCAR) to reduce variability and strengthen reproducibility, data sharing, and evidentiary confidence in forensic comparisons of pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes.³

Pathways in Spectroscopy, Episode 2: Mercedes Bertotto Recounts Her Career Journey from Argentina to the Netherlands

In this “Pathways in Spectroscopy” episode, Mercedes Bertotto, founder of Vibralytics, outlines her career trajectory from Argentina to the Netherlands. Trained in chemistry and engineering, she began at Argentina’s national reference laboratory, applying near-infrared spectroscopy, chemometrics, and microscopy to food authenticity challenges such as detecting adulterants in honey and bone ash.⁴ She later joined Wageningen University & Research, contributing to multiple projects in chemometrics and hyperspectral imaging, including assessing tomato susceptibility to fungal infection.⁴ Her path illustrates how spectroscopy expertise can translate across industries and countries, emphasizing data analysis and spectral sensing as core skills.

Generative Artificial Intelligence in Spectroscopy: What’s New and a Glossary of Terms

This Pittcon 2026 conference article reviews six influential 2025 publications that establish generative artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative framework for spectroscopy. Highlighted at the James L. Waters Symposium, the works demonstrate how generative models, such as variational autoencoders, generative adversarial networks, diffusion models, and transformers, enable realistic spectral synthesis, data augmentation, inverse molecular inference, and automated structural elucidation across vibrational, electronic, and magnetic resonance methods.⁵ The review traces a shift from traditional chemometrics toward physics-informed generative architectures that learn underlying spectral distributions.⁵ Collectively, the studies position generative AI as a foundational tool for next-generation spectroscopic calibration, interpretation, and discovery.

References

1. Lotfinia, M.; McDowall, R. D. Dracula Rises From The Grave: CSA Lives On? Spectroscopy 2026, ASAP. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/dracula-rises-from-the-grave-csa-lives-on- (accessed 2026-02-19).
2. Margeson, J.; Wetzel, W. How Will Handheld XRF Instrumentation Shape Field-Based Elemental Analysis? Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/how-will-handheld-xrf-instrumentation-shape-field-based-elemental-analysis- (accessed 2026-02-19).
3. Leatherland, L.; Chasse, J. Interlaboratory Assessment of Micro-XRF Silicon Drift Detector Systems for Forensic Elemental Analysis of Electrical Tape Evidence. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/interlaboratory-assessment-of-micro-xrf-silicon-drift-detector-systems-for-forensic-elemental-analysis-of-electrical-tape-evidence (accessed 2026-02-19)
4. Bertotto, M.; Wetzel, W. Pathways in Spectroscopy, Episode 2: Mercedes Bertotto Recounts Her Career Journey from Argentina to the Netherlands. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/pathways-in-spectroscopy-episode-2-mercedes-bertotto-recounts-her-career-journey-from-argentina-to-the-netherlands (accessed 2026-02-19).
5. Workman, Jr., J. Generative Artificial Intelligence in Spectroscopy: What’s New and a Glossary of Terms. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/generative-artificial-intelligence-in-spectroscopy-what-s-new-and-a-glossary-of-terms (accessed 2026-02-19).