With the advance of atomic absorption spectroscopy and the degree of automation obtained in instruments today, the preparation of calibration curves and the ensuing calculations are, apart from the sample preparation in certain cases, the most time consuming part of an atomic absorption analysis. It is usually at this stage that errors are introduced, either as a result of miscalculation or of the operator's personal bias. Both these factors can be overcome by using a programmable desk calculating system, and would be of special importance to laboratories where routine analyses are conducted. It is also of use in cases where elements are only determined periodically.