Proportion Span
Measurement span defines the concentration interval over which the instrument signal remains directly proportional to the amount of peptide analyte present in the sample. This linear dynamic range is essential when quantifying fiber compositions that contain very small or very large percentages of a specific animal hair. It guarantees that the resulting measurements are reliable.
Testing Precision
When the concentration falls outside this region, the signal becomes non-linear, leading to inaccurate calculations. If a tester wants to detect a five percent addition of sheep wool in a cashmere sweater, the analyte must fall within the linear dynamic range of the mass spectrometer. This allows the lab to provide a dependable, legally binding fiber composition certificate.
Fiber Blend
Manufacturers of luxury garments run tests across this entire range to check the consistency of their yarn batches. For example, a blend of eighty percent wool and twenty percent polyamide must be measured with equal accuracy. If the system is pushed beyond its limit, the quantitative results can skew the actual ratios, causing issues during customs audits.
This testing is particularly critical for high-end knitwear where even a small variance in the synthetic content can violate retail labeling laws.
Calibration Limit
Testing labs must verify this performance parameter regularly by running dilution series of pure fiber digests. This routine check confirms that the detector is operating under optimal conditions and is not saturated by high protein amounts. It keeps the testing system compliant with international textile standards.
