We have attempted to isolate the fast component of the quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signal using a curve-fitting procedure. By pre-determining the decay constants, the procedure is simple enough to be scripted, allowing a large number of aliquots to be processed. A Monte Carlo error routine is used, in which simulated decay curves are fitted with several exponentials, which vary in their decay rates according to the measured distributions of fast and medium component decay rates. The derived error term is closely related to the intensity of the fast component signal, but is also influenced by the degree of similarity between the equivalent doses of the fast and medium OSL components. There are potential advantages in using this procedure to date both well-bleached and partially bleached quartz, of any depositional age.