Measurement Uncertainty in Chemical Analysis

It is now becoming recognized in the measurement community that it is as important to communicate the uncertainty related to a specific measurement as it is to report the measurement itself. Without knowing the uncertainty, it is impossible for the users of the result to know what confidence can be placed in it; it is also impossible to assess the comparability of different measurements of the same parameter. This volume collects 20 outstanding papers on the topic, mostly published from 1999-2002 in the journal "Accreditation and Quality Assurance." They provide the rationale for why it is important to evaluate and report the uncertainty of a result in a consistent manner. They also describe the concept of uncertainty, the methodology for evaluating uncertainty, and the advantages of using suitable reference materials. Finally, the benefits to both the analytical laboratory and the user of the results are considered.

R. Kadis: Analytical procedure in terms of measurement (quality) assurance; G. Dube: Metrology in chemistry- a public task; J.L. Love: Chemical Metrology, Chemistry and the Uncertainty of Chemical Measurements; R. Dybkaer: From total allowable error via metrological traceability to uncertainty of measurement of the unbiased result; J. Pauwels st al.: The determination of the uncertainty of reference materials certified by laboratory intercomparison; J. Pauwels et al.: Evaluation of uncertainty of reference materials; A. Maroto et al.: Should non-significant bias be included in the uncertainty budget?; L. Brüggemann et al.: Evaluation of measurement uncertainty for analytical procedures using a linear calibration function; P. Tarapcik et al.: Measurement uncertainty distributions and uncertainty propagation by the simulation approach; M. Rösslein: Evaluation of uncertainty utilising the component by component approach; P. Serapinas: Uncertainty of the mean- Statistical approach, 1/f noise and chaos; K. Heydorn: Calibration uncertainty; RM Niemi, SI Niemelä: Measurement uncertainty in microbiology cultivation methods; H. Andersson: The use of uncertainty estimates of test results in comparison with acceptance limits; D.A. Flinchbaugh et al.: A model to set measurement quality objectives and to establish measurement uncertainty expectations in analytical chemistry laboratories using ASTM proficiency test data; AMH van der Veen, J. Pauwels: Uncertainty calculations in the certification of reference materials. 1. Principles of analysis of variance; AMH van der Veen et al.: Uncertainty calculations in the certification of reference materials. 2. Homogeneity study; AMH van der Veen et al.: Uncertainty calculations in the certification of reference materials. 3. Stability study; M. Buzoianu: Some aspects of the evaluation of measurement uncertainty using reference materials;W. Hässelbarth: Uncertainty- The key topic of metrology in chemistry; SLR Ellison, V.J. Barwick:Estimating measurement uncertainty:reconciliation using a cause and effect approach; SLR Ellison, A. Williams: Measurement uncertainty and its implications for collaborative study method validation and method performance parameters; I. Kuselmann, A. Shenhar: Uncertainty in chemical analysis and validation of the analytical method:acid value determination in oils; P. de Zorzi et al.: A practical approach for assessment of sampling uncertainty; Hu Zhengzhi, Liu Li: Quality Assurance for the analytical data of trace elements in food; M. Golze: Customers needs in relation to uncertainty and uncertainty budgets; R. Kadis: Evaluating uncertainty in analytical measurements:pursuit of correctness; A. Rios, M. Valcarcel: A view of uncertainty at the bench analytical level; M. Thompson: Uncertainty of sampling in chemical analysis; M.H. Ramsey: Appropriate rather than representative sampling, based on acceptable levels of uncertainty; J.R. Cowles: Experimental sensitivity analysis applied to sample preparation uncertainties: are ruggedness tests enough for measurement uncertainty estimates?; A.M.H. van der Veen et al.: Relationship between the performance characteristics from an interlaboratory study programme and combined measurement uncertainty: a case study;V.J. Barvik, S.L.R. Ellison: The evaluation of measurement uncertainty from method validation studies Part 1: Description of a laboratory protocol;V.J. Barvik et al.: The evaluation of measurement uncertainty from method validation studies Part 2: The practical application of a laboratory protocol; S. Küppers: Is the estimation of measurement uncertainty a viable alternative to validation?; R.J.N. Bettencourt da Silva et al.: Validation of the uncertainty evaluation for the determination of metals in solid samples by atomic spectrometry; H. Malissa, W. Riepe: Statistical evaluation of uncertainty for rapid tests with discrete readings- examination of wastes and soils; G. Stringari et al.: Influence of two grinding