Abstract:
Method for calibrating an infrared spectroscopy apparatus to produce spectra to determine the concentration of a component C1 in one fluid F1 of an animal, includes: a) obtaining samples of fluid F1 and of a different fluid from each animal belonging to a group of representative animals, fluid F2 containing detectable amounts of at least one component C2 which is directly or indirectly related to a metabolic pathway of component C1; b) measuring the concentration of component C1 in the samples of fluid F1; c) producing the complete IR absorption spectrum of the samples of fluid F2; d) identifying in the absorption spectra of fluid F2 samples the spectral ranges that correlate with the concentration of component C1 in fluid F1 samples; and e) calculating, on the basis of at least one of the correlating spectral ranges, a predictive mathematical model of the concentration of component C1 in fluid F1.