The ASPEX PGS™ (Performance Grading System*) is the first practical method for routine checking of particle analyzer performance. It is very easy to use, and within minutes produces detailed and precise metrics that summarize virtually every significant aspect of instrument performance. The system consists of a specimen fabricated with thousands of precisely known features and an accompanying software component (MapMatch™) that extracts performance metrics from the analysis file. A highlight of the system is its insensitivity to foreign material that might otherwise skew the results.

MapMatch Program

Single-click automated “Analyze” function.
Extracts performance metrics from AFA data quickly.
Match each of the known features with corresponding measured particle.
Grade determined via the PGS Microsoft Excel-based report.

PGS specimen

Realistic simulation of low-atomic number features.
Complete specimen is ~5 mm by 5mm
Corner zone ~0.7m by 0.7 mm on.
Each corner zones contains 1092 circular features, ranging from 1 micron to 100 microns in size.

PGS Report Features

	Description
Sensitivity	Missed, Extra or Misclassified Features
Spatial Accuracy	Magnification and Aspect Ratio Error
Precision	Sizing Accuracy Sizing Precision Aspect Ratio Error
Reproducibility	Goodness of Fit Coordinate Location
Miscellaneous	Dataset Information Video Levels Analysis Instrumental Analysis Parameters
Trend Reporting	Observe trends in results over a large series of runs
Overall Performance Grades	OK, Watch or Fail
Data Analysis Time	< than 3 mins