Patent ID: 8666677

Claim:
A method for use in determining which variables are to be added to or subtracted from a chemometric model based on a plurality of data samples, the method comprising: a) constructing, by a processor, a chemometric model based on a plurality of variables previously selected; b) projecting and plotting, by said processor, said plurality of data samples on a coordinate system based on said model constructed in step a); c) for each cluster of data points in a plot resulting from step b), defining, by said processor, a confidence ellipse that covers a plurality of data points in said cluster using a predetermined percentage of said data points; d) for each pair of ellipses defined in step c), determining, by said processor, if said pair of ellipses are overlapping at said predetermined percentage of said data points; e) in the event said pair of ellipses are overlapping, decreasing, by said processor, said percentage of data points used in defining said pair of ellipses; f) in the event said pair of ellipses are not overlapping, increasing, by said processor, said percentage of data points used in defining said pair of ellipses; g) determining if said pair of ellipses are overlapping; h) repeating steps e), f), and g) until said percentage of data points is at a maximum without said pair of ellipses being overlapping; and i) recursively adjusting, by said processor, said model by adding or subtracting variables from said model.