Systems and methods for calibration, verification, and sensitivity checks for detectors

A method for performing a calibration, verification, and sensitivity checking of a detector in a mobility spectrometer, the method comprising:

• performing the calibration of the detector, wherein the calibration comprises releasing at least one calibrant in a form of a gas from at least one calibrant chamber in flow communication with the detector, generating a calibration signal using the at least one calibrant, comparing the calibration signal to an expected signal, and determining a calibration unit for use in adjusting future detected signals;
• performing the verification of the calibration, wherein the verification comprises
• releasing at least one verification substance in a form of a gas from at least one verification chamber in flow communication with the detector, wherein the at least one verification substance has at least one predefined mobility spectrum and wherein the at least one verification chamber and at least one calibrant chamber are separate chambers;
• ionizing the at least one verification substance to generate the verification signal;
• automatically adjusting at least one mobility spectrum of the at least one ionized verification substance by at least a portion of the calibration unit wherein the at least one mobility spectrum includes at least one peak;
• recording the at least one mobility spectrum of the at least one ionized verification substance;
• comparing the adjusted verification signal to an expected signal;
• and,
• based on the comparing, verifying the calibration or repeating the calibration;
• and,
• checking the sensitivity of the detector, wherein the sensitivity checking comprises releasing at least one sensitivity substance in a form of a gas from at least one sensitivity chamber in flow communication with the detector.

A method for performing a calibration, a verification, and a sensitivity check of a detector in a mobility spectrometer, the method comprising:

• performing the calibration of the detector by releasing at least one calibrant in a form of a gas from at least one calibrant chamber in flow communication with the detector, generating a calibration signal using the at least one calibrant, comparing the calibration signal to an expected signal, and determining a calibration unit for use in adjusting future detected signals;
• performing the verification of the calibration, wherein the verification comprises
• releasing at least one verification substance in a form of a gas from at least one verification chamber in flow communication with the detector, wherein the at least one verification substance has at least one predefined mobility spectrum;
• ionizing the at least one verification substance to generate a verification signal;
• automatically adjusting at least one mobility spectrum of the at least one ionized verification substance by at least a portion of the calibration unit wherein the at least one mobility spectrum includes at least one peak;
• recording the at least one mobility spectrum of the at least one ionized verification substance;
• comparing the adjusted verification signal to an expected signal;
• and,
• based on the comparing, verifying the calibration or repeating the calibration;
• and
• performing the sensitivity check of the detector, wherein the sensitivity check comprises releasing at least one sensitivity substance in a form of a gas from at least one sensitivity chamber in flow communication with the detector, wherein the at least one verification chamber and at least one sensitivity chamber are separate chambers, generating a sensitivity check signal using the at least one sensitivity substance, determining if the sensitivity check signal has an expected magnitude, and, based on the determining, confirming the sensitivity of the detector or determining the detector requires servicing.