The Role of Certified Reference Materials, Accreditations and Laboratory Cleanliness in the Reduction of Laboratory Error and Increased Accuracy

Oral Presentation

Prepared by P. Atkins, T. Mancuso, H. Lang
SPEX CertiPrep, 203 Norcross Rd, Metuchen, NJ, 08840, United States


Contact Information: patkins@spexcsp.com; 732-623-0470


ABSTRACT

Testing, Manufacturing and Research laboratories face more challenges and regulations than ever before. Many accreditation bodies issue increasing numbers of guidelines. Regulatory agencies increase the number of compounds and elements that need to be reported while the levels of detection required are being decreased. There is often a lot of time, effort and money invested in deciphering the morass of laboratory regulation, restrictions and guidelines.

This presentation explores the accreditation, regulation and guidelines around the manufacture and use of Certified Reference Materials. We will explore the timeline of all the current guidelines and discuss the variables from accreditation to uncertainty involved in producing and using reference materials. We will also discuss the changing field of chemical analysis and the challenges that arise from the pursuit of increasingly smaller levels of detection. The elimination of common laboratory sources of error and identification of sources in error within the materials and processes within an analytical laboratory will be discussed.