I guess my confusion comes with interference standards. For example, I'm measuring Sr in plag and need to correct for Si interference. So I collect SiO2 as the interference standard against Strontianite. My understanding is that if I use quick standards, option 2, it will only measure the elements in SiO2 (Si) but not Sr because it hasn't been included in the standard comp. Is this understanding incorrect?
If my understanding is correct, then for interference corrections I should be using a regular standard setup where everything is measured.
No, the elements utilized in the quick standard acquisition are based on the elements in the unknown sample setup. So if you are measuring Si and Sr, then it will measure both Si and Sr in the SiO2.... BUT there's a caveat!
Remember, the quick standards feature only measures elements standards which have been
assigned as primary, interference or MAN standards!
So if you haven't made your interference (or MAN) assignments yet, then it won't acquire those elements. Because of this "feature", one should not use the quick standard acquisition option in a new run, and instead acquire all the elements in all the standards. Because how else will you know if you are seeing an interference unless you are measuring elements that *should* be zero concentrations?
Of course there's an exception!
![Cheesy :D](https://probesoftware.com/smf/Smileys/default/cheesy.gif)
That is, if you are loading in a file setup from a previous run where all the interference (and MAN) assignments have already been assigned, then it's OK to just go ahead and use the quick standard acquisition feature right off the bat.