Patent ID: 8306758

Claim:
A system for maintaining the accuracy of calibration reference features during mass spectrometry of a sample, comprising: a mass spectrometer; and a processor in communication with the mass spectrometer, wherein (a) the mass spectrometer performs a plurality of scans producing a plurality of measurements, (b) the processor obtains the plurality of measurements from the mass spectrometer, (c) the processor calculates reference features from the plurality of measurements and calculates a reference feature confidence value for each reference feature of the reference features without knowing an identity of reference ions represented by the reference features, (d) the mass spectrometer performs a scan of a sample, (e) the processor obtains a plurality of sample measurements from the mass spectrometer for the scan, (f) the processor calculates sample features from the plurality of sample measurements and calculates a sample feature confidence value for each sample feature of the sample features without knowing an identity of sample ions represented by the sample features, (g) the processor determines common features that are common to the reference features and the sample features by aligning the reference features and the sample features, (h) the processor calculates constants for an equation of mass for the mass spectrometer using a confidence weighted regression of the common features, (i) the processor calculates new masses for the sample features from the equation of mass and the constants, (j) the processor updates the reference features using the sample features and recalculates the reference feature confidence values, and (k) steps (d)-(k) are repeated until no more scans are performed on the sample.