Estimation of the Limit of Detection in Chromatography

Abstract

A method for estimating the limit of detection of a chromatographic procedure is described. It defines the detection limit as the analyte concentration that produces a chromatographic peak having a height equal to three times the standard deviation of the baseline noise. The latter quantity is estimated from the height of the largest noise fluctuation measured in a pre-selected chart interval. This relationship is developed through the use of the Camp-Meidell extension of the Bienayme-Tchebycheff inequality and information theoretical concepts. A simple equation, as well as a procedure for carrying out the calculation, is given.