Apparatus and method for elemental analysis of particles by mass spectrometry

Computer readable code stored on computer readable medium for execution in a mass spectrometer, wherein the computer readable code when executed causes the mass spectrometer to:

• define a primary detection group consisting of one or more mass-to-charge ratio channels of the mass spectrometer based on anticipated elements associated with the particle;
• define a secondary detection group consisting of one or more different to the first detection group mass-to-charge ratio channels of the mass spectrometer;
• define a function having as arguments the data collected in the primary detection group in one or more sampling cycles;
• define at least one selection criterion for evaluating the function as indicating a presence of a particle in the mass spectrometer;
• and
• acquire the first data in the plurality of mass-to-charge ratio channels of the mass spectrometer which includes at least the primary detection group, for at least one sampling cycle,
• wherein in the event that the value of the function of the first data satisfies the at least one selection criterion, then designate the sampling cycle as associated with the particle and use the data from one or more of the first and the second detection group for the analysis of the particle, and
• wherein the code when executed causes data to be transferred to a data storage device at a relatively lower rate when the value of the function does not satisfy the at least one selection criteria and at a relatively higher rate when the value of the function satisfies the at least one selection criteria.