Method of creating standardized spectral libraries for enhanced library searching

A method of identifying a sample, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) acquiring a standardized library of reference spectra from a group of standards wherein the library of reference spectra is representative of the spectra of said group of standards, each spectrum in the library of reference spectra being referred to as an unbiased reference spectrum, said unbiased reference spectra being stored and retrievable;
• (b) acquiring an unbiased sample spectrum;
• and
• (c) searching the library of reference spectra for a match with the sample spectrum,
• wherein the unbiased sample spectrum is acquired by the steps of:
• (i) acquiring at least one working spectrum over a spectral region of interest on a working instrument, each said working spectrum being representative of a spectrum of an equivalent standard and being referred to as a biased working spectrum, each said equivalent standard being selected from said group of standards;
• (ii) deriving a transfer function from the biased working spectra and the unbiased reference spectra, the transfer function mathematically equates the working spectra to the corresponding unbiased reference spectra;
• (iii) during the same time interval as step (i), acquiring a biased sample spectrum of the sample on the working instrument;
• and
• (iv) applying the transfer function of step (ii) to the biased sample spectrum to obtain an unbiased sample spectrum.

A method of identifying a sample, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) acquiring a standardized library of reference spectra from a group of standards wherein the library of reference spectra is representative of the spectra of said group of standards, each spectrum in the library of reference spectra being referred to as an unbiased reference spectrum, said unbiased reference spectra being stored and retrievable;
• (b) acquiring at least one working spectrum over a corresponding spectral region on a working instrument, each said working spectrum being representative of the spectrum of an equivalent standard and being referred to as a biased working spectrum, each said equivalent standard being selected from said group of standards;
• (c) deriving a transfer function from the biased working spectra and the unbiased reference spectra, the transfer function mathematically equates the working spectra to the unbiased reference spectra;
• (d) during the same time interval as step (b), acquiring a biased sample spectrum of the sample on the working instrument over the corresponding spectral region;
• (e) applying the transfer function of step (c) to the biased sample spectrum to obtain an unbiased sample spectrum;
• and
• (f) searching the standardized library of reference spectra for a match with the unbiased sample spectrum to aid in the identification at least one component in the sample giving rise to said sample spectrum.