Drifting baseline

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Probable cause		Suggested actions
1	Absorbance of mobile phase NOTE: Use high purity HPLC grade or better solvents only. Solvents from different suppliers might have subtle differences in their contamination profile.	Use non-absorbing mobile phase solvents and modifiers. Positive drift: Use higher UV-absorbance detector wavelengths where analytes are still present.
2	Room temperature fluctuation	Ensure the system is positioned in a laboratory location free of temperature fluctuations. Use a column thermostat to control column temperature.
3	Mobile phase miscibility	Ensure that the mobile phases are completely miscible.
4	Column bleed NOTE: The eluent pH and the column temperature shall never exceed the manufacturer‘s specifications. Use specialty columns when working at high temperatures and/or pH extremes. NOTE: Most silica-based columns degrade rapidly at pH below 2 or above 8, especially at temperatures higher than 40 °C.	Replace the column if necessary.
5	Detector cell contamination	Inspect the flow cell for salt crystals, air bubbles, or contamination. If necessary, clean/flush the flow cell or replace it.
6	Aging detector lamp	Check if the on-time hours of the detector lamp have exceeded the expected lifetime. Run detector lamp intensity test to check the condition of the lamp. Replace the lamp if necessary.

18-Feb-2026