Reliability of an integrity or leak test of a sample

A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a computer-readable medium, comprising computer readable instructions, which, when executed on a computer system, cause the computer system to perform the following operations:

• determining at least one first parameter indicative of a first volume of the sample;
• wherein the at least one first parameter is determined under specified temperature conditions;
• determining at least one second parameter indicative of a deviation from the first parameter;
• determining, after determining the at least one second parameter, at least one third parameter indicative of an assessment of integrity of the sample,
• wherein the assessment provides an indication of a passed test or a failed test;
• determining whether the deviation has an impact on the indication provided by the assessment based on one or more of the following factors:
• thermal characteristics of the sample,
• efficiency of heat transfer to or from the sample wall,
• environmental humidity,
• geometry of the sample,
• speed and amount of thermal expansion or contraction of the sample according to localized environmental deviations,
• thermal capacity or thermal conductivity of the sample wall,
• a maximum expected change in the assessment of the integrity of the sample under stable temperature conditions;
• and wherein,
• when the deviation is determined to have an impact on the indication provided by the assessment, identifying a possibility that the indication provided by the assessment is incorrect.

A computer system for improving reliability of an integrity or leak test of a sample, comprising:

• a plurality of sensors arranged around or within the sample,
• wherein the sensors are operable to determine at least one first parameter indicative of at least one of a first volume of the sample;
• wherein the at least one first parameter is determined under specified temperature conditions;
• and
• the sensors being operable to determine at least one second parameter indicative of a deviation from the first parameter;
• after determining the at least one second parameter, the sensors are operable to determine at least one third parameter indicative of an assessment of the integrity of the sample,
• wherein the assessment provides an indication of a passed test or a failed test;
• a processor to:
• determine whether the deviation has an impact on the indication provided by the assessment based on one or more of the following factors:
• thermal characteristics of the sample,
• efficiency of heat transfer to or from the sample wall,
• environmental humidity,
• geometry of the sample,
• speed and amount of thermal expansion or contraction of the sample according to localized environmental deviations,
• thermal capacity or thermal conductivity of the sample wall,
• a maximum expected change in the assessment of the integrity of the sample under stable temperature conditions;
• and wherein,
• when the deviation is determined to have an impact on the indication provided by the assessment, identify a possibility that the indication provided by the assessment is incorrect.