PerspectiveTraceability of Chemical Analysis

Abstract

Traceability provides the terminology, concepts and strategy for ensuring that analytical chemical measurements are comparable. At present, the reference points are often internationally agreed methods; they can also be reference materials. Ideally there should be a single reference point, which in the case of chemistry is the SI Unit the mole, but much work will be required to achieve such a situation. Traceability does not imply high accuracy and levels of certainty consistent with fitness for purpose criteria is the goal. This paper discusses the relevance of the concept of traceability and reviews developments leading to a conceptual model for analytical chemistry. It also reports some recent work and considers future needs.

References

1. J. C. Sherlock, et al., Chem. Br., 1985,(November), 1019.
2. B. Griepink, Aiming at Good Accuracy with the BCR, BCR, Brussels, Belgium 1989.
3. P. de Bièvre, IMEP 6 Trace Elements in Water Personal communication, 1996.
4. E. Prichard, G. M. Mackay and J. Points, Trace Analysis: A Structured Approach to Obtaining Reliable Results, eds. Mackay, G. M., and Points, J., RSC, Cambridge, 1996.
5. A. Lamberty, L. Van Wevel, J. R. Moody and P. de Bièvre, Accreditation and Quality Assurance, 1996, 1, 71.
6. J. D. Fassett and R. L. Watters, in Reviews on Analytical Chemistry, ed. Littlejohn, D., and Thorburn Burns, D. T., RSC, Cambridge, UK, 1994.
7. W. Horwitz, Anal. Chem., 1982, 54, 67A.
8. P. de Bièvre, R. Kaarls, H. S. Peiser, S. D. Rasberry and W. P. Reed, Accred. Qual. Assur., 1996, 1, 3.
9. G. Price, Accred. Qual. Assur., 1996, 1, 150.
10. M. Thompson, Analyst, 1996, 121, 285.
11. R. J. Wells, Proceedings of 1995 Annual Conference of Metrology Society of Australia, 1995, 203.
12. R. Worswick, Anal. Proc., 1995, 32, 285.
13. M. Valcarcel and A. Rios, Analyst, 1995, 120, 2291.
14. L. Thienpont, Eur. J. Clin. Chem. Clin. Biochem., 1995, 33, 949.
15. P. De Bièvre, B. King, B. Neidhart and W. Wegscheider, Anal. Proc., 1994, 31, 377.
16. W. P. Reed, Am. Lab., 1994, 18 (December).
17. L. H. Keith, Environ. Sci. Technol., 1994, 28, 590A.
18. E. L. Garner and S. D. Rasberry, J. Test. Eval., 1993, 21, 505.
19. Y. I. Alexandstour, Analyst, 1996, 121, 1137.
20. B. King, Analyst, 1993, 118, 587.
21. B. King and R. Walker, Anal. Chem., 1994, 66, 1168A.
22. BIPM, IEL, IFCC, ISO, IUPAC, OIML, International Vocabulary of Basic and General Terms in Metrology, ISO, Geneva, Switzerland 2nd end., 1993.
23. M. L. McGlashan, Metrologia, 1994, 31, 447.
24. Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement, ISO, Geneva, Switzerland, 1993.
25. A. Williams, ‘Quantifying Uncertainty in Analytical Measurement’, EURACHEM Guide, 1995.
26. F. Vanhaecke, L. Moens, R. Dams and P. Taylor, Anal. Chem., 1996, 68, 567.
27. I. Bjorkhem, Stable Isotopes, Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1982, p. 593.
28. G. N. Bowers, Jr., J. D. Fassett and E. White, Anal. Chem., 1993, 68, 475R.
29. R. J. Caimi and J. T. Brennan, Anal. Chem., 1993, 65, 3497.