What is the significance of detector noise during GC calibration

Hi P.balaji,

1. Noise can be a significant factor during GC calibration, or even during sample runs, especially if you have small peaks.  The question then arises, are you looking at an actual peak, or is it just detector noise?

2.  This would depend on your SOP.  If noise is really bad, you may need to fix the issue first and then recalibrate.  

3.  Signal to noise ratio looks at the height of your analyte peak and compares it to the height of the system noise.  Your analyte peak would have to be a certain height above the noise, depending on your method of calculation.  Detector drift is essentially the slope of your baseline over a certain period of time, does your baseline stay flat, or does it have a positive/negative slope?

Hi P.balaji,

1. Noise can be a significant factor during GC calibration, or even during sample runs, especially if you have small peaks.  The question then arises, are you looking at an actual peak, or is it just detector noise?

2.  This would depend on your SOP.  If noise is really bad, you may need to fix the issue first and then recalibrate.  

3.  Signal to noise ratio looks at the height of your analyte peak and compares it to the height of the system noise.  Your analyte peak would have to be a certain height above the noise, depending on your method of calculation.  Detector drift is essentially the slope of your baseline over a certain period of time, does your baseline stay flat, or does it have a positive/negative slope?