Information leaflets

Information leaflets

Information leaflets

Use of uncertainty information in compliance (2021)

Content

Acceptance and rejection zones with a guard band used for high confidence of correct rejection ("Stringent Acceptance")This information leaflet is intended for laboratories perfoming chemical analyses. It has been prepared by the Eurachem Measurement Uncertainty and Tracability Working Group (see here for details) to introduce the use of decision rules and guard bands in interpreting results accompanied by measurement uncertainty information. The leaflet summarises the principles described in the Eurachem Guide "Use of uncertainty information in compliance assessment", which is available here.

This revised edition of this information leaflet is amended to reflect changes in the second edition of the compliance Guide.

Availability

 

* Publication dates are dates of publication on this website.

** First published 2021-09-01; amended 2021-12-09.

Translation

Translation into other languages is encouraged for members of Eurachem. Other offers of translation should be directed to the Eurachem Secretariat for permission. The Eurachem policy on maintenance and development of Eurachem guidance, available on the Policies page, gives further information on translation.

Note: The previous (2015) edition is available in English, Czech, Estonian, Finnish, Portuguese, Turkish and Ukrainian.

Previous editions

The previous edition of this leaflet can be found here.

The importance of method validation

Content

Factors affecting PT strategy

Method validation is an important requirement in the practice of analytical science. ISO/IEC 17025, OECD guidelines on Good Manufacturing Practice and many similar codes of practice require some level of validation, whether by verification of the laboratory's implementation of published standard methods, or by comprehensive validation studies of new, in-house, procedures. Most analytical chemists are aware of its importance, but why it should be done, when, and exactly what needs to be done, is not always clear.

This leaflet, prepared by the Eurachem Method Validation working group, gives a brief introduction to the overall process of validation and the key performance characteristics to be studied, and provides pointers to more detailed guidance.

Availability

Translation

Please consult the Method Validation Working Group if you would like to prepare a translation in your own language.

 

*Publication dates are dates of website publication. English version first published on this site on 2021-02-25.

Investigating poor performance in proficiency testing

Content

Factors affecting PT strategyA laboratory will occasionally have a poor performance in a PT scheme. When this occurs, the laboratory should acknowledge it, carry out an investigation and document a review of possible causes, even if it decides not to take any specific action. This leaflet, prepared by the EURACHEM Proficiency Testing Working Group, gives advice for laboratories on how to best address such events.

This second edition is an editorial amendment to reference recent guidance on proficiency testing.

Availability

The second edition is currently available in the following languages. Links to translations of the first edition, available in 10 languages, are temporarily maintained on this page (below) for convenience while translations of the second edition are prepared. 

Translation

Please consult the PT Working Group Chair if you would like to prepare a translation in your own language.

Previous editions

The first edition of this information leaflet can be found here, in our publication archive. Selected translations of the first edition are listed below for convenience pending translation of the second edition.

 

Notes

1. Dates show date of publication of the linked file on this website.

2. 2nd English edition first published 2022-07-30

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Proficiency testing schemes for sampling

Content

Factors affecting PT strategy

Proficiency Testing schemes for sampling play an important role in the improvement of sampling procedures and also in the development of participants from an educational point of view, especially if workshops with the participants are organised. PT schemes for sampling can also give an appreciation of the contribution of the sampling in relation to the overall quality of the measurement, including the associated contribution to the measurement uncertainty.

This leaflet, prepared by the EEE-PT Working Group, gives some hints on the application of ISO/IEC 17043 for PT providers organising PT schemes for sampling. If there is a comparison between participants and a mechanism for performance evaluation which meets the objective of the PT scheme for sampling, then ISO/IEC 17043 is applicable.

Availability

Translation

Please consult the PT Working Group Chair if you would like to prepare a translation in your own language.

 

Notes

1. Dates show date of publication of the linked file on this website.

2. 2nd English edition first published 2020-07-29

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