Forgot your password?
New user?
New Window Opens on the Secret Life of Microbes: Scientists Develop First Microbial Profiles of Ecosystems
CAS announces the release of SciFinder Scholar for Mac OS X
Press Releases
Press Releases
| Check out our New Publishers' Select for Free Articles |
Accreditation and Quality Assurance: Journal for Quality, Comparability and Reliability in Chemical Measurement (v.3, #12)
The influence of different evaluation techniques on the results of interlaboratory comparisons Remarks on Linsinger TPJ, Kandler W, Krska R, Grasserbauer M
by R. G. Visser; Wim Oussoren (pp. B497-B498).
Some considerations in the use of internal standards in analytical method development
by Hassan Y. Aboul-Enein (pp. A497-A497).
Apt timing for Described Measurement Procedures (DMP) of Primary Methods of Measurements (PMM)
by Paul De Bièvre (pp. 481-481).
A traceability protocol to the SI by gravimetric analysis by Charles M. Beck II (pp. 482-484).
An example is presented of a traceability protocol for the measurement of a single-element strontium reference material solution, executed by a "primary" method of measurement for certification. The method of measurement is briefly described together with the measurement equation and the associated calculations for the estimation of uncertainties. This is followed by a discussion and estimate of each component of uncertainty associated with the measurement, together with a final estimate of uncertainty. The final estimate of uncertainty compares well with observed uncertainties for two previous laboratory measurements of the reference material.
Keywords: Key words Certification; Gravimetric analysis; Measurement; Measurement uncertainty; Reference material; Traceability
EAL interlaboratory comparison Wa1 – Testing of potable water by K. Haapala; Hanna Lattunen; Irma Mäkinen (pp. 485-487).
The accreditation of laboratories has emphasized the use of interlaboratory comparisons as a tool to monitor the comparability and accuracy of results laboratories produce. An interlaboratory comparison for water laboratories was organized among European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA) member countries; 30 laboratories, 7 of which were not accredited, from 14 European countries participated in this intercomparison. All the laboratories were chosen by the appropriate national accreditation bodies, with the instruction to select as participants those laboratories which act as national reference laboratories in this field. About 90% of the data collected was considered satisfactory after statistical treatment. Non-accredited laboratories performed as well as accredited laboratories. The laboratories were asked to take corrective action and report the corrections to the accreditation bodies. A great variation in the reported uncertainties of the results was observed. There seems to be a need to organize EA interlaboratory comparisons for national reference laboratories analysing water. It is obvious that even reference laboratories need training in how to estimate the uncertainty of results.
Keywords: Key words Comparability; European Cooperation for Accreditation; Interlaboratory comparison; Potable water; Proficiency testing; Uncertainty
Implementation of ISO 9002 for research in occupational epidemiology by J. J. Moulin; Thierry Clavel; Dominique Chouanière; Nicole Massin; Pascal Wild (pp. 488-496).
The Department of Epidemiology, which forms part of the French National Institute for Research and Safety (INRS), is involved in research on occupational risks. It provides results of industry-based epidemiological studies focused on the relationship between occupational exposure and diseases of the respiratory system, central and peripheral nervous systems and cancer. This paper describes the Quality Assurance System developed by our department, which has been successfully maintained and extended since being granted ISO 9002 certification by the French Association for Quality Assurance. The quality system includes procedures specific to epidemiological study conduct and scientific peer reviews. It has been designed in order to meet the required ISO elements, including quality aims and policy, quality procedures for management of personnel, sub-contractors and facilities, nonconformities, corrective and preventive actions, archiving and traceability and planning of internal quality audits. Improvements in management, technical and service quality have resulted from this process. Although epidemiological studies differ markedly from industrial production for which the standards were originally drawn up, we have found that Quality Assurance is both applicable and useful in epidemiological research on occupational risks. Therefore, we conclude that a certified Quality Assurance Scheme including scientific peer reviews can be recommended to ensure reliable epidemiological results.
Keywords: Key words ISO 9002 standard; Occupational epidemiology; Research
QASKI – the quality assurance system of the National Institute of Chemistry by M. Prosek; Alenka Golc-Wondra; Adolf Krasnja (pp. 499-502).
The quality assurance system (QASKI) developed and implemented in the National Institute of Chemistry is presented. It tries to eliminate the incompatibilies between the present methods of quality assurance used in research and development institutes such as good laboratory practice and accreditation. Since 1991, QASKI has been used for internal accreditation of laboratories located in the institute, regardless of the fact that some of them deal with routine analyses and others with research and development. Every laboratory that wishes to ensure the credibility of its research or routine work enters QASKI and at the same time chooses an external method of approval. All interested laboratories, study directors, principal investigators, internal auditing staff, heads of documentation, quality assurance unit staff, the Director of the institute and the Quality Management Board participate in the internal system.
Keywords: Key words Quality assurance; Quality assessment; Quality control; Accreditation; Good laboratory practice
The fourth meeting of the CCQM, February 1998 by Richard S. Davis (pp. 502-503).
A synopsis is given of the fourth meeting of the Consultative Committee on Amount of Substance (CCQM). This is preceded by a brief description of the origins of the various consultative committees that report to the Comité International des Poids et Mesures (CIPM). In addition to invited guests, the attendees included experts on metrology in chemistry representing about 20 national and international measurement institutes, as well as delegates from IUPAC and ISO/REMCO. Major topics included the identification of key comparisons designed to establish the scientific basis for mutual recognition of measurements made by national measurement institutes.
Keywords: Key words CCQM; Metrology in chemistry; Key comparisons
Short report on the 5th meeting of the Joint EAL-EUROLAB-EURACHEM Working Group: "Proficiency Testing in Accreditation Procedures" (EEE-PT)
by Paul De Bièvre; N. Presser (pp. 503-504).
Institute for Interlaboratory Studies: What are we? What do we do?
by R. Visser; W. Oussoren (pp. 512-513).