Usage considerations for headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry as a suitable technique for qualitative analysis in a routine lab

•A protocol to perform qualitative non-target analysis with HS-GC-IMS devices is described.•The methodology is intended for GC-IMS routine analyses of complex samples over lengthy periods.•A discussion of frequent difficulties and particularities of IMS is included.•GC-IMS has a similar performance than that of other techniques used in routine laboratories.•The weaknesses detected open the possibility for future improvement of GC-IMS devices. The potential of headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) to perform non-targeted qualitative analysis of complex samples has led to an unprecedented increase in its popularity in recent years. The operating principle of IMS makes quality control essential to ensure adequate results. Besides this, the suitability of GC-IMS is determined by multiple phenomena that take place before and during IMS detection. The present work discusses a novel GC-IMS quality control protocol for both beginners and experienced users. Likewise, it describes factors that must be taken into account in order to develop a robust GC-IMS qualitative analysis method and, if needed, to achieve the identification of VOCs present in real samples. The developed quality control protocol was successfully employed in our laboratory for the routine analysis of >500 real samples (olive oil and Iberian ham) for 6 months, thus it is recommended for the analysis of a great number of complex samples. Furthermore, the behaviour of the ions produced in the ionisation chamber and the possible reactions between them in GC-IMS qualitative analysis were assessed.