Pick a number — Analytical data reliability and biological reference materials

Abstract

Sound analytical information is a prerequisite for decisions of far-reaching impact in disciplines affecting our day-to-day lives. These areas encompass research and regulatory sciences, clinical chemistry, nutritional and environmental sciences and legal aspects. Proliferation of analytical activity in these areas has resulted in an inundation of the literature with results of chemical analyses sometimes of unknown or poor quality. Although there is realization among critical practitioners of analytical chemistry for the need for reliable data, this message must be transmitted to the growing population of casual analysts. Of the many facets of a laboratory data quality assurance program, one convenient, cost-effective approach is the incorporation into the scheme of analysis, of appropriate compositionally-similar reference materials for chemical composition, certified for concentrations of analytes of interest. The status of analytical data, sources of error therein, the philosophy, practical applications, current world-wide status, availability, research and development activities relative to reference materials in general and biological reference materials in particular are reviewed. Progress is described regarding the recent development of agricultural and clinical reference materials in our and cooperating laboratories to add to the limited, but growing world repertoire of reference materials.