In the vacuum method test gas is blown against the wall of the evacuated sample from the atmosphere side. It enters the sample at leaks and is fed to the leak detector. The sample must be vacuum pressure-proof. The sensitivity stages GROSS —FINE—ULTRA are run through. The detection limit is lower than in the sniffing method. The helium concentration at the leak must be known in order to quantify the leak. The state of equilibrium must be waited for.