Patent ID: 8437964

Claim:
A method of determining at least one characteristic of a plurality of species, comprising: exposing a plurality of species to at least first and second interacting components to at least partially separate the plurality of species; treating a first sample of the at least partially separated plurality of species, using mass spectroscopy, to produce a first spectral data pattern; treating one or more of the following, using mass spectroscopy, to produce a second spectral data pattern: (1) a second sample of the at least partially separated plurality of species that is not identical to the first sample, or (2) a portion of the plurality of species prior to the exposing step; and comparing at least a portion of the first spectral data pattern with at least a portion of the second spectral data pattern to determine at least one characteristic of a plurality of species by subtracting, dividing, and/or multiplying at least some data points from the first data pattern and at least some points from the second data pattern.