Patent ID: 8829429

Claim:
A test method for checking the function of a mass spec-trometer ( 5 ), characterized in that it comprises the following work steps: (a) feeding an eluate of a chromatographic separation system ( 1 , 2 ) to a mass spectrometer ( 5 ); (b) continuous admixing of a separate target analyte solution to the eluate of a chromatographic separation system ( 1 , 2 ) fed to the mass spectrometer, the separate target analyte solution having a known concentration and being admixed at a constant flow rate; (c) injecting the mixture produced in step (b) into the mass spectrometer ( 5 ) that comprises at least one detector ( 5 ′) providing a signal and generating a detector signal for the mixture produced in step (b); (d) capturing a mass spectrogram based on the detector signal generated in step (c), which mass spectrogram comprises an integration line ( 6 ) and a mass-spectrographic peak ( 7 ) of the target analyte, this integration line being a lasting background signal, which is underlaid to the mass-spectrometric analysis of the eluate; (e) evaluating the mass spectrogram produced in step (d) by capturing an integrated mass-spectrographic peak area (A) above the integration line ( 6 ) of the target analyte and an area (B) which is found under the integrated peak area (A) of the target analyte by perpendicular drop lines from the peak integration line ( 6 ); (f) forming a mathematical relationship from the determined mass-spectrographic areas A and B evaluated in step (e); (g) determining a threshold value for the mathematical relationship formed in step (f), which threshold value designates the border of the acceptable quality of a mass-spectrometric analysis, and (h) accepting or rejecting the mass-spectrometric analysis of a sample on the basis of a comparison of the mathematical relationship formed in step (f) with threshold value determined in step (g).