The Accuracy and Precision of the SiroMat Instrument

The accuracy and precision of the SiroMat instrument, an instrument that directly measures average cotton fibre maturity and the distribution of mature and immature fibres in a specimen, is examined.  Accuracy is measured against a set of international cottons previously described according to the fundamental method of measuring fibre cross-sectional thickness and circularity.  The precision of the SiroMat instrument is measured in terms of instrument repeatability over time and inter-instrument variation.  These results together with a description of the approaches used to match different instruments and calibrate instrument readings with standard measures of fibre maturity demonstrate the soundness of SiroMat as a direct and accurate instrument method for assessing cotton fibre maturity.