Definitions Concerning Instrument Performance

It is immediately apparent that the complete automation of this sub-stage is a difficult task. Only in a few instances (e.g. the automatic in vivo determinations described In Chapter 14 and performed with the on-line process analysers dealt with in Chapter 17) is this ideal objective affordable. Much more often, some of the above-mentioned operations involve human participation, although It is still termed automated [1]. Therefore, although many clinical analysers are classed as automatic, the blood and urine samples that they handle are collected and even treated manually before they are placed on the sampler. Such is also the case with automatic off-line water pollutant analysers, also calling for manual collection and preservation of samples. Consequently, the automated sampling concept as used here refers to the Introduction Into the analyser or instrument concerned of a definite portion of sample collected from its source and even treated manually, with the few exceptions stated above. 

Because volumes have been written concerning mass spectrometry over the past 40 years, our approach here is to focus on the type of mass spec instrumentation required to perform EPA methods and those systems can be described as being of a low-resolution nature and the most affordable. The quadrupole mass filter or mass selective detector (MSD) and quadru-pole ion trap mass spectrometer (ITD) fit this criteria and will be the only mass specs discussed. Onuska and Karasek have given a good definition and description of the importance of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to TEQA (76) ... 

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