Patent ID: 7734436

Claim:
A method of comparative analysis of a subject sample, derived from a product, with respect to a set of reference samples, comprising the steps of: a) measuring values of a plurality of characteristics of the reference samples; b) measuring values of a plurality of characteristics of the subject sample; wherein the measuring steps a) and b) implement an instrumental or sense-based analysis method producing values relating to a variable number of characteristics, said number depending on the analyzed product; c) determining the set of characteristics having values measured during the preceding steps; d) in the set of characteristics established in step c) i) identifying, as a first class of characteristics, the characteristics common to the subject sample and to at least one of the reference samples, ii) identifying, as a second class of characteristics, the characteristics particular to the reference samples, and iii) identifying, as a third class of characteristics, the characteristics particular to the subject sample; e) for each of the values measured in steps a) and b), producing an indication of the class assigned to the corresponding characteristic during step d) and associating this indication with the measured value; f) for the characteristics determined in step c), quantifying the ratio between, on the one hand: i) the measured values of the characteristics particular to the subject sample, and ii) the measured values of the characteristics particular to the reference samples, and, on the other hand, the values of all the characteristics determined in step c) as measured during steps a) and b); and g) when the magnitude of at least one of the ratios calculated in step f) exceeds a first predetermined threshold level, producing a warning signal indicative of a significant difference between the subject sample and the set of reference samples.