This list of resources gives access to relevant information with respect to quality assurance/quality control for analytical measurements.
EVISA Resources related to quality assurance/quality control for analytical measurements
Brief summary: Error sources in speciation analysis
Brief summary: Certified Reference Materials for Speciation Analysis Journal Database: Journals related to Quality Assurance Company Database: Producers of CRMs Company database: Professional Societies and Associations related to QA/QC Link page: All about CRMs
Terminology Glossary @LabCompliance Glossary @ NMS EURACHEM Guide: Terminology in analytical measurement IUPAC: Terms concerned with internal quality control procedures
Error Sources: General Analytical Methods Committee,
What causes most errors in chemical analysis?, Anal. Methods, 5/12 (2013) 2914-2915.
DOI: 10.1039/c3ay90035e Stephen L. R. Ellison, William A. Hardcastle,
Causes of error in analytical chemistry: results of a web-based survey of proficiency testing participants, Accred. Qual. Assur., 17 (2012) 453–464.
DOI 10.1007/s00769-012-0894-2
EVISA Brief summary: Error sources in speciation analysisError Sources: Sampling Analytical Methods Committee,
Estimating sampling uncertainty - how many diplicate samples are needed ?, Anal. Methods, 6/1 (2015) 24-26.
DOI: 10.1039/c3ay90095A Michael H. Ramsey, Kary A. Boon,
New Approach to Geochemical Measurement: Estimation of measurement Uncertainty from Sampling, rather than an Assumption of Representative Sampling, Geost. Geoanal. Res., 34/3 (2010) 293-404.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-908X.2010.00104.x Peter Lischer,
The impact of sampling on variance functions in analytical chemistry and microbiology, Accred. Qual. Assur., 15/11 (1020) 603-611.
DOI: 10.1007/s00769-010-0708-3 G.L. Donati, M.C. Santos, A.P. Fernandes, J.A. Noacutebrega,
Sampling and Sample Homogeneity as Introductory Topics in Analytical Chemistry Undergraduate Courses, Spectrosc. Lett., 41/5 (2008) 251-257.
DOI: 10.1080/003870102225138 L. Petersen, P. Minkkinen, K.H. Esbensen,
Representative sampling for reliable data analysis: theory of sampling, Chemom. Intell. Lab. Sys., 77/1-2 (2005) 261-277.
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemolab.2004.09.013 Pierre Gy,
Sampling of discrete materials — a new introduction to the theory of sampling: I. Qualitative approach, Chemom. Intell. Lab., 74/1 (2004) 7-24.
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemolab.2004.05.012 Pierre Gy,
Sampling of discrete materials: II: Quantitative approach - sampling of zero-dimensional objects, Chemom. Intell. Lab., 74/1 (2004) 25-38.
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemolab.2004.05.015 R.W. Gerlach, J.M. Nocerino, C.A. Ramsey, B.C. Venner,
Gy sampling theory in environmental studies - 2. Subsampling error estimates, Anal. Chim. Acta, 490/1-2 (2003) 159-168.
DOI: 10.1016/S0003-2670(03)00568-3Error Sources: Weighing and Volumetric Errors Mettler Toledo,
Proper Weighing with Laboratory Balances, Guide Book, May 2012. available from
Mettler Toledo Bruno Wampfler, Matthias Rösslein,
Uncertainty due to volumetric operatioms is often underestimated, Talanta, 78/1 (2009) 113-119.
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2008.10.047 Arthur Reichmuth, Samuel Wunderli, Michael Weber, Veronika R. Meyer,
The Uncertainty of Weighing Data Obtained with Electronic Analytical Balances, Microchim. Acta, 148 (2004) 133–141.
DOI: 10.1007/s00604-004-0278-3 R.B. Lam, T.L. Isenhour,
Minimizing Relative Error in the Preparation of Standard Solutions by Judicious Choice of Volumetric Glassware, Anal. Chem., 52/7 (1980) 1158-1161.
DOI: 10.1021/ac50057a041
Error Sources: Calibration Dimitrios Theodorou, Ypatia Zannikou, Fanourios Zannikos,
Estimation of the standard uncertainty of a calibration curve: application to sulfur mass concentration determination in fuels, Accred. Qual. Assur., 17 (2012) 275–281.
DOI: 10.1007/s00769-011-0852-4 Richard J.C. Brown, Thomas P.S. Gillam,
Comparison of quantification strategies for one-point standard addition calibration: The homoscedastic case, Anal. Chim. Acta, 716 (2012) 108– 111.
DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2011.12.041 Oto Mestek, Katerina Malisova,Richard Koplík, Jan Polák, Miloslav Suchánek,
Uncertainty of the concentration of a copper calibration solution, Accred. Qual. Assur., 13 (2008) 305–310.
DOI : 10.1007/s00769-008-0372-z Richard J.C. Brown, Matthew R. Roberts, Martin J.T. Milton,
Systematic error arising from ‘Sequential’ Standard Addition Calibrations: Quantification and correction, Anal. Chim. Acta, 587 (2007) 158–163.
DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2007.01.064 Kay Heydorn, Thomas Anglov,
Calibration uncertainty, Accred. Qual. Assur., 7 (2002) 153-158.
DOI: 10.1007/s00769-002-0440-8 Erik Björn, Douglas C. Baxter, Wolfgang Frech,
Calibration errors due to variations in peak characteristics in the measurement of transient signals by inductively coupled plasma-scanning mass spectrometry, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 17 (2002) 1582–1588.
DOI: 10.1039/b208868a Jung-Ki Suh, Jin-Chun Woo, Dong-Min Moon, Minsoo Park,
An Error Model for the Evaluation of Uncertainty in Calibration Process, Bull. Korean Chem. Soc., 22/3 (2001) 247-252. available from
BKCSGuidelines and documents concerning quality assessment Analytical Methods Committee: Technical BriefsAMC Technical Briefs brings reliable and up-to-date technical
information about aspects of analytical science to members of the
Analytical Division and the wider analytical community. At first an
independent publication, it is now published by the RSC in the journal
Analytical Methods. It is available gratis for download from this site
or directly from the journal site.
EPA's Quality System for Environmental Data and TechnologyEPA uses its Quality System to manage the quality of its environmental data
collection, generation, and use. The primary goal of the Quality System is
to ensure that our environmental data are of sufficient quantity and quality
to support the data's intended use. Under the EPA Quality System, EPA organizations
develop and implement supporting quality systems. Similar specifications
may also apply to contractors, grantees, and other recipients of financial
assistance from EPA.
U.S. EPA QA/G-8: Guidance on Environmental Data Verification and ValidationGuidance to help organizations
conduct data verification and data validation activities including information
on Data Integrity.
U.S. EPA QA/G-9S: Data Quality Assessment: Statistical Methods for PractitionersThis document provides general guidance to organizations on assessing data quality criteria and performance specifications. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed the Data Quality Assessment (DQA) Process for project managers and planners to determine whether the type, quantity, and quality of data needed to support Agency decision making has been achieved. This guidance is the culmination of experiences in the design and statis tical analyses of environmental data in different Program Offices at the EPA. Many elements of prior guidance, statistics, and scientific planning have been in corporated into this document.
U.S. EPA: Training Courses on Quality Assurance and Quality Control ActivitiesThe Quality Staff develops a variety of traditional training courses
on quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) activities and the
EPA quality system. For each course, there is a facilitator guide with
slides and speaker notes, suggested activities, and supplementary materials
for student handouts. Instructors should have an applied knowledge in
quality system management, as well as quality assurance and quality control
activities. Since these courses are generic in nature, instructors should
supplement these courses with program-specific activities or material
to give context, emphasis, and relevance to your training event.
Nordtest: Internal Quality Controll–Handbook for Chemical LaboratoriesThe aim of this handbook is to describe a fit for purpose system for internal quality control at analytical laboratories that are performing chemical analysis. The approach is general, but the examples are mainly from environmental analyses
Uncertainty evaluation of measurements Trace Analysis: A Guide for attaining reliable measurements @ Dr. Paul Gaines Provides a comprehensive resource on sample preparation and analysis for those interested in elemental determinations by atomic spectrometry, especially ICP-OES and ICP-MS. Issue such as sources of contamination, detection limits, sample preparation, standard stability, and method validation are well covered.
Agilent: Uncertainty made easyThis paper aims to demonstrate
a simplified approach to uncertainty assessment which falls broadly
within the guidelines set out in both NIS3003 and the ISO Guide.
EuraChema
network of organisations in Europe having the objective of
establishing a system for the international traceability of chemical
measurements and the promotion of good quality practices. Eurachem has
published a range of guides on quality and accreditation issues in
analytical measurement. All Guides are currently available free of
charge from the Eurachem Website.
Home of the GUM MethodA web site dedicated to information on "Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement".
Integrity Solutions Group: Measurement Uncertainty Calculator DownloadIntegrity Solutions Group has prepared various analyses and presentations
to establish an integrated means to assure technically correct, integrated,
and cost-effective Measurement Uncertainty Estimates. A useful tool is a
computerized calculation program
NIST: Essentials of expressing measurement uncertaintyThis
is a brief summary of the method of evaluating and expressing
uncertainty in measurement adopted widely by U.S. industry, companies in
other countries, NIST, its sister national metrology institutes
throughout the world, and many organizations worldwide.
NIST: TN 1297: Guidelines for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of NIST Measurement Results
The publication TN 1297, prepared by B.N. Taylor and C.E. Kuyatt and entitled Guidelines for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of NIST Measurement Results, is in turn based on the comprehensive International Organization for Standardization (ISO) publication, Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement.
NMS chemical and biological metrology websiteThis sides provides a quality assurance training resource as well as documents related to the quality of measurements.
WMO: Stephanie Bell: Measurement Good Practice Guide No. 11 (Issue 2), A Beginner’s Guide to Uncertainty of Measurement, NPL (UK)The aim of this Beginner’s Guide is to introduce the subject of measurement uncertainty.
Quantifying Uncertainty in Analytical MeasurementMembers of the CITAC/Eurachem measurement uncertainty working group support the utilization of the completely revised Guide Quantifying Uncertainty in Analytical Measurements. Their web site has a forum with an uncertainty discussion thread.
Method validation Validation, Qualification, Quality assurance, Regulations and Accreditation @ LabCompliance US Igor Renato Bertoni Olivares, Fernando Antunes Lopes,
Essential steps to providing reliable results using the Analytical Quality Assurance Cycle, Trends Anal. Chem., 35 (2012) 109-121.
doi:10.1016/j.trac.2012.01.004 T. Saffaj, B. Ihssane,
Uncertainty profiles for the validation of
analytical methods, Talanta 85 (2011) 1535–1542.
DOI:
10.1016/j.talanta.2011.06.042 P. Araujo,
Key aspects of analytical method validation and linearity evaluation, J. Chromatogr. B, 877 (2009) 2224-2234.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2008.09.030 Thomas P.J. Linsinger,
Use of recovery and bias information in analytical chemistry and estimation of its uncertainty contribution, TrAC Trends Anal. Chem., 27/10 (2008) 916–923.
DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2008.08.013 Bieke Dejaegher, Yvan Vander Heyden,
Ruggedness and robustness testing, J. Chromatogr. A, 1158 (2007) 138–157.
DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2007.02.086 Piotr Konieczka,
The Role of and the Place of Method Validation in the Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) System, Crit. Rev. Anal. Chem., 37 (2007) 173–190.
DOI: 10.1080/10408340701244649 D. Brynn Hibbert,
Systematic errors in analytical measurement results, J. Chromatogr. A, 1158 (2007) 25–32.
DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2007.03.021 Isabel Taverniers, Marc De Loose, Erik Van Bockstaele,
Trends in quality in the analytical laboratory. II. Analytical method validation and quality assurance, TrAC Trends Anal. Chem., 23/8 (2004) 535–552.
DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2004.04.001 Proficiency Testing API - American Proficency InstituteAPI offers PT programs for labs performing microbiology and chemistry analyses on food products and clinical labs.
ASTM Proficiency Testing Programs EPTIS - European Information System on Proficiency Testing SchemesA searchable database of PT schemes available worldwide
CTS - Collaborative Testing Services iis - Institute for Interlaboratory StudiesThe independent iis Institute organises global interlaboratory studies on fuels, petroleum products, petrochemicals and consumer products.
LGC StandardsLGC Standards is a UKAS accredited international provider of proficiency testing (PT) services wit respect to to laboratories undertaking chemical, microbiological and physical measurements including trials.
NAPT - North American Proficiency Testing ProgramThe North American Proficiency Testing (NAPT) Program (a program of the Soil Science Society of America) assists soil, plant and water testing laboratories in their performance through inter-laboratory sample exchanges and a statistical evaluation of the analytical data.
Laboratory Accreditation
European co-operation for Accreditation (EA)The European co-operation for Accreditation or EA is an association of national accreditation bodies in Europe that are officially recognised by their national Governments to assess and verify—against international standards—organisations that carry out evaluation services such as certification, verification, inspection, testing and calibration (also known as conformity assessment services).
The NELAC Institute The NELAC Institute (TNI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to foster the generation of environmental data of known and documented quality through an open, inclusive, and transparent process that is responsive to the needs of the community.
NELAC: National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Management System
TNI LAMS is a central repository for information regarding the accreditation status of environmental laboratories in the USA. TNI Accreditation Bodies are in the process of migrating accreditation data to this database. Currently it contains complete listings for LA, OR, MN, NH, NJ, TX, VA, UT, and partial for FL. Other ABs are expected soon.
Usefull literature related to QA/QC G.T. Wernimont,
Use of statistics to develop and evaluate analytical methods, AOAC, Arlington, VA, 1987
Useful for the evaluation of uncertainty from interlaboratory studies.
The Analytical Method Committee,
Internal Quality Control of Analytical data, Analyst, 120 (1995) 29-34.
DOI: 10.1039/AN9952000029
The Analytical Method Committee,
Uncertainty of measurement – implications for its use in analytical science, Analyst, 120 (1995) 2303-2308.
DOI: 10.1039/AN9952002303 The AMC of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) proposes a top-down approach for the evaluation of uncertainty in an analytical laboratory. Information from interlaboratory studies is considered here to obtain an overall estimate of uncertainty. Deals only with general principles of the subject.
Michael Thompson, Roger Wood,
Harmonized Guidelines for Internal Quality Control in Analytical Chemistry Laboratories, Pure Appl. Chem., 67 (1995) 649-666.
DOI: 10.1351/pac199567040649
Software National Institutes of Science and Technology: DataPlotDataPlot is a free, public-domain, multi-platform software system for
scientific visualization, statistical analysis, and non-linear modeling.
George Mason University: Statistical Analysis
A collection of resources related to statistical analysis.
John C. Pezzullo: StatPages.Net
Contains links to online calculators, free statistical software, online
statistics books, tutorials, and related resources.
UCLA Department of Statistics: Statistics Calculators
Calculators include statistical graphs, power calculations, sample size
calculations, etc.
Department of Statistics at Cargnegie Mellon: Statlib
Contains data and statistical software.
Related EVISA News
September 17, 2015: Arsenic species in rice: A new Australian reference material August 12, 2015: Call for help: ISO/DIN Project: Standard method for arsenic speciation analysis using HPLC-ICP-MS July 9, 2015: Accurate determination of hexavalent chromium in agricultural soil February 15, 2013: JRC-IRMM has released ERM-BC211 certified rice reference material for arsenic speciation analysis May 3, 2011: New reference materials for the characterisation of selenium-enriched food products March 20, 2011: Stability of Reference Materials for Speciation Analysis September 10,2009: Speciation Analysis - Striving for Quality
August 2, 2005: New CRM for Selenomethionine in yeast developed by NRC Canada is now on the market Other Link pages related to specific domains of analytical sciences:
Resources related to analytical sciences
Resources related to atomic spectrometry
Resources related to molecular spectrometry
Resources related to mass spectrometry
Resources related to chromatography
Resources related to quality assurance/quality control
Resources related to certified reference materials
last time modified: August 16, 2022
