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In this work, calibration methods, reference compounds and sample introduction system used by various researchers for different ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) techniques have been discussed. Reduced mobility values of positive and negative reference compounds along with the reason for selecting them by different researchers have been described in the literature. Differential mobility spectrometer’s (DMS) performance was evaluated by measuring calibration curves and performing repeatability tests using two test compounds: 2,6-di-tertbutylpyridine (2,6-DtBP) and hexylamine. 2,6-DtBP is often used as a positive reference compound since the mobility of its ions are independent of temperature and humidity of the drift gas. It produces a single mobility peak and due to its high proton affinity, the instrument is sensitive for the analysis of the compound. Hexylamine on the other hand produces proton bound dimer at high concentrations. Both 2,6-DtBP and hexylamine’s peak intensity and peak area showed a linear correlation when plotted against concentration. However, the linearity was only followed up to certain concentration and above this concentration the peak intensity did not follow a linear relationship. Repeatability and calibration plots were studied and compared for both 2,6-DtBP and hexylamine, where both the compounds were diluted with nitrogen gas and nitrogen gas mixed with purified air. The repeatability was good for both the compounds when they were diluted only with nitrogen