Summary

If we put all the preceding steps together:

eg = la.analyse(data_path='./latools_demo_tmp',  # the location of your data
                config='UCD-AGILENT',  # the configuration to use
                internal_standard='Ca43',  # the internal standard in your analyses
                srm_identifier='STD')  # the text that identifies which files contain standard reference materials
eg.trace_plots()

eg.despike(expdecay_despiker=True,
           noise_despiker=True)

eg.autorange(on_mult=[1.5, 0.8],
             off_mult=[0.8, 1.5])

eg.bkg_calc_weightedmean(weight_fwhm=300,
                         n_min=10)

eg.bkg_plot()

eg.bkg_subtract()

eg.ratio()

eg.calibrate(drift_correct=False,
             srms_used=['NIST610', 'NIST612', 'NIST614'])

eg.calibration_plot()

eg.filter_threshold(analyte='Al27', threshold=100e-6)  # remember that all units are in mol/mol!

eg.filter_reports(analytes='Al27', filt_str='thresh')

eg.filter_on(filt='Albelow')

eg.filter_off(filt='Albelow', analyte='Mg25')

eg.make_subset(samples='Sample-1', name='set1')
eg.make_subset(samples=['Sample-2', 'Sample-3'], name='set2')

eg.filter_on(filt=0, subset='set1')

eg.filter_off(filt=0, subset='set2')

eg.sample_stats(stats=['mean', 'std'], filt=True)

stats = eg.getstats()

eg.minimal_export()

Here we processed just 3 files, but the same procedure can be applied to an entire day of analyses, and takes just a little longer.

The processing stage most likely to modify your results is filtering. There are a number of filters available, ranging from simple concentration thresholds (filter_threshold(), as above) to advanced multi-dimensional clustering algorithms (filter_clustering()). We recommend you read and understand the section on advanced_filtering before applying filters to your data.

Before You Go

Before you try to analyse your own data, you must configure latools to work with your particular instrument/standards. To do this, follow the Three Steps to Configuration guide.

We also highly recommend that you read through the Advanced Topics, so you understand how latools works before you start using it.