scholarly journals Quality Assurance of Analytical Measurements—A Vital Element in Safety Performance in the Nuclear Field

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Elena Neacsu
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Reference Materials ◽  
Certified Reference Materials ◽  
Analytical Data ◽  
Physical Principle ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
Nuclear Domain ◽  
Analyte Detection ◽  
Harmful Effects

The (International Atomic Energy Agency) IAEA’s fundamental safety objective is to protect people and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation. The safety principles apply to all facilities and all activities to reduce existing radiation risks. Analytical quality assurance has gained in importance in many scientific areas, including the analysis of radioactive specimens that require a thorough investigation and regulations for safety and ecological reasons. The use of certified reference materials is an essential pillar for the assessment of the quality of analytical data. Still, such matrix-matched certified reference materials are unfortunately not available for most investigations relevant to the nuclear domain. Therefore, other strategies have to be established, i.e., to compare the analytical results obtained for a particular instrumental technique, with data from another methodology whose analyte detection is based on a different physical principle.

scholarly journals The problem of improving the quality of seriously issued certified reference materials of the composition of gas mixtures

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 5-13
Author(s):  
L. A. Konopelko ◽  
A. V. Kolobova ◽  
O. V. Fatina
Keyword(s):  
Reference Material ◽  
Reference Materials ◽  
Certified Reference Materials ◽  
Metrological Traceability ◽  
Gas Mixtures ◽  
Measuring Instruments ◽  
Expanded Uncertainty ◽  
Iso Guide 35 ◽  
The Russian Federation

Currently, in the Russian Federation, the metrological traceability of certified reference materials of the composition of gas mixtures in cylinders under pressure produced by manufacturers of certified reference materials is carried out in accordance with GOST 8.578-2014. Considering that certified reference materials of the composition of gas mixtures in cylinders under pressure are used for testing to approye the type of measuring instruments, verification, calibration, and graduation of gas-analytical measuring instruments used to control explosive gases and vapors, harmful components in the atmospheric air and the air of the working area, emissions from vehicles and enterprises, to control technological processes, the quality of hydrocarbon products, etc., the issue of ensuring the quality of seriously produced certified reference materials (about 100.000 cylinders with gas mixtures per year) is important. To ensure the quality of certified reference materials of gas mixtures in cylinders under pressure, mass-produced by manufacturers of certified reference materials, we offer the following actions:– manufacturers of certified reference materials’ passing of mandatory accreditation for compliance with the requirements of GOST ISO Guide 34–2014 and GOST ISO Guide 35–2015;– manufacturers of certified reference materials’ constant participation in the proficiency testing programs through interlaboratory tests;– actualizing and refining the existing set of standards defining the requirements for the entire life cycle of a certified reference material of a gas mixture in a cylinder under pressure;– improving the method of certification of a reference material by calculating the value of the expanded uncertainty of the reference material and the introducting a new coefficient «technological reserve».

Development, validation, and certification by isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of lyophilized human serum reference materials for cortisol (CRM 192 and 193) and progesterone (CRM 347 and 348)

1991 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 540-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Thienpont ◽  
Lothar Siekmann ◽  
Alexander Lawson ◽  
Elisabeth Colinet ◽  
Andrȳ De Leenheer
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Reference Materials ◽  
Isotope Dilution ◽  
Certified Reference Materials ◽  
Collaborative Study ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Coefficients Of Variation

Abstract The Community Bureau of Reference of the European Communities has produced four batches of lyophilized serum Certified Reference Materials, two for cortisol (CRM 192 and 193) and two for progesterone (CRM 347 and 348). For cortisol, one of the pools consisted of serum from healthy blood donors, whereas the second batch was supplemented with pure cortisol. The progesterone Reference Materials contained only endogenous hormone concentrations. Assessment of vial-to-vial variability in the cortisol and progesterone concentrations showed no between-sample inhomogeneity, and the materials were stable. The quality of the materials was therefore considered sufficient for certification of the values for the cortisol and progesterone concentrations by a collaborative study involving several laboratories from the European Communities, using isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Inaccuracy in reconstitution of the lyophilized materials was less than 0.3%; imprecision of sampling was less than 0.2%. For determinations of cortisol and progesterone concentrations, the mean within-laboratory coefficients of variation (CVs) were 1.76% (CRM 192), 1.19% (CRM 193), 1.64% (CRM 347), and 1.75% (CRM 348). The between-laboratory CVs were greater: CRM 192, 1.79%; CRM 193, 1.48%; CRM 347, 2.08%; and CRM 348, 2.16%. The concentrations in the reconstituted Reference Materials were certified to be 273 nmol/L in CRM 192 and 763 nmol/L in CRM 193 for cortisol and 10.13 nmol/L in CRM 347 and 40.3 nmol/L in CRM 348 for progesterone. Uncertainties at the 0.95 confidence level--6 (CRM 192), 14 (CRM 193), 0.21 (CRM 347), and 1.0 nmol/L (CRM 348)--were considered compatible with the intended use of the materials.

scholarly journals Production and Use of BCR Reference Materials for Quality Assurance in Environmental Analysis: An Update

2001 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 1786-1792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Quevauviller
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Reference Materials ◽  
Environmental Analysis ◽  
Control Charts ◽  
Certified Reference Materials ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Analytical Quality Control ◽  
Analytical Quality ◽  
Invaluable Tool

Abstract Reference materials represent an invaluable tool for analytical quality control. Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) are used for the validation of methods, whereas various types of (uncertified) Reference Materials (RMs) are used for routine quality control (establishment of control charts) and interlaboratory testing (e.g., proficiency testing). This paper provides background information on the production and use of environmental RMs and describes recent CRMs produced by the BCR (European Commission) for quality assurance in environmental analysis.

From Parochial to International

1989 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Alex Williams
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Reference Materials ◽  
Analytical Methods ◽  
Certified Reference Materials ◽  
Analytical Measurement ◽  
Require Data

Abstract The customers for analytical measurement services have international requirements; they require data of proven validity that will be accepted internationally. This means that well researched and tested analytical methods must gain better international acceptance. The methods should be capable of producing results to the accuracy required by the customer. They need to be supported by the use of appropriate certified reference materials, and the analyst, in reporting results, should give an estimate of the accuracy obtained. In addition, an independent accreditation is needed of the quality assurance procedures of the laboratory to assure customers that the analytical methods have been used correctly.

Certified Reference Materials for the Characterisation of Multifunctional Materials

2005 ◽  
Vol 492-493 ◽  
pp. 635-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert Roebben ◽  
Uwe Wätjen ◽  
Andrée Lamberty
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Reference Material ◽  
Reference Materials ◽  
Certified Reference Materials ◽  
Multifunctional Materials ◽  
Multifunctional Material ◽  
Minimum Sample Intake ◽  
Local Properties ◽  
Sample Intake ◽  
Material Producer

Multifunctional materials are created by intimately integrating different materials. The assessment of the local properties and composition of the different components of such a multifunctional material necessarily relies on techniques with sufficient spatial resolution. The increased use of these microanalysis or microprobe techniques has created a demand for appropriate quality assurance tools, such as reference materials. In this paper a number of issues related to the certification of reference materials for multifunctional materials are discussed. Examples of reference materials are shown to illustrate the particular challenges the reference material producer is faced with such as micro-homogeneity, minimum sample intake and stability.

scholarly journals Life After SIRI—Where Next?

Radiocarbon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 1159-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Marian Scott ◽  
Philip Naysmith ◽  
Gordon Cook
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Reference Materials ◽  
Interlaboratory Comparisons ◽  
User Communities

ABSTRACTRadiocarbon (14C) dating is routinely used, yet occasionally, issues still arise surrounding laboratory offsets, and unexpected and unexplained variability. Quality assurance and quality control have long been recognized as important in addressing the two issues of comparability (or bias, accuracy) and uncertainty or variability (or precision) of measurements both within and between laboratories (Long and Kalin 1990). The 14C community and the wider user communities have supported interlaboratory comparisons as one of several strands to ensure the quality of measurements (Scott et al. 2018). The nature of the intercomparisons has evolved as the laboratory characteristics have changed s. The next intercomparison is currently being planned to take place in 2019–2020. The focus of our work in designing intercomparisons is to (1) assist laboratories by contributing to their QA/QC processes, (2) supplement and enhance our suite of reference materials that are available to laboratories, (3) provide consensus 14C values with associated (small) uncertainties for performance checking, and (4) provide estimates of laboratory offsets and error multipliers which can inform subsequent modeling and laboratory improvements.

scholarly journals Modern Analytical Facilities 2. A Review of Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) Procedures for Lithogeochemical Data

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Piercey
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Reference Materials ◽  
Control Charts ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Analytical Data ◽  
Relative Difference ◽  
T Test ◽  
Relative Standard ◽  
Modern Analytical

Quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) are critical components of modern analytical geochemistry.  A properly constructed QA/QC program identifies both the source of analytical error and provides a means of establishing confidence in and assessing limitations of analytical data. A QA/QC program involves monitoring precision, accuracy, and potential contamination from sampling to analysis.  Precision can be monitored via the systematic insertion of sample, pulp, and analytical duplicates, and reference materials; the resulting data are subsequently evaluated using scatterplots, statistical tests (e.g. % relative standard deviation), Thompson-Howarth plots, and the average coefficient of variation (CVavg (%)).  Accuracy is determined through the submission of reference materials and monitored using statistical tests (e.g. % relative difference, t-test) and Shewart control charts.   Blanks test contamination and results are monitored using Shewart control charts.SOMMAIREL'assurance de la qualité et le contrôle de la qualité (AQ-CQ) sont deux composantes essentielles à la géochimie analytique moderne.  Un programme AQ-CQ bien conçu défini à la fois la source de l'erreur d'analyse et un moyen d'établir la confiance et d’évaluer les limites des données analytiques.  Un programme AQ-CQ comprend le contrôle de la précision, de l'exactitude et de la contamination potentielle, de l'étape d’échantillonnage à l'analyse.  La précision peut être contrôlée via l'insertion systématique d'échantillon, de pulpes, et de doublons d'analyse, et de matériaux de référence; les données obtenues sont ensuite évaluées en utilisant des diagrammes de dispersion, des tests statistiques (pourcentage d’écart type relatif, par ex.), des courbes de Thompson-Howarth, et des  coefficients de variation moyens (CVm %).  La précision est déterminée par la soumission de documents de référence et de contrôle par des tests statistiques (différence relative en %, t-test, par ex.) et des graphiques de contrôle de Shewhart.  La contamination d’essais à blanc et les résultats sont contrôlés par des graphiques de contrôle Shewhart.

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