The response of the Partec laser backscatter particle size analyzer has been tested under a variety of conditions. Various materials posessing different light scattering characteristics have been examined and the response of the Partec instrument has been evaluated. In particular the system response to transparent particle systems (e.g. oil in water emulsions) has been studied. It has been found that the Partec laser backscatter instrument provides reasonably accurate and reproducible results when used to characterize opaque, highly reflective particles such as hydrated alumina, but suffers from a lack of sensitivity to fine transparent particles such as oil droplets. The instrument does, however, readily detect the presence of opaque particle contaminants in oil-water emulsions.