Method of control of a spectrometer

Abstract

A method for controlling a mass spectrometer comprising a mass analyser and a detector. A test specimen is supplied into the mass analyser, to travel through the mass analyser and towards the detector, the test specimen comprising a carrier gas and/or analyte ions, the test specimen being one of a series of test specimens to be analysed. An ion intensity is measured, the ion intensity representing the intensity of ions within the test specimen received at the detector. The method determines if at least one validity criterion of a group of validity criteria is complied with, the group of validity criteria including: identification of a valid peak in the ion intensity measured within a predetermined time interval; and identification of a user-specified flag associated with the predetermined time interval. If none of the validity criteria are complied with, then terminating supplying into the mass analyser the test specimen and any further test specimen of the series of test specimens. A controller configured to carry out the method, and a mass spectrometer are also disclosed.