ANALYTICAL METHODOLOGY LABORATORY PERFORMANCE DURING THE CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL REFERENCE MATERIALS

A database from a recently completed multilaboratory characterization campaign of elemental concentration values in Biological Reference Mat erials has been evaluated and intercompared concerning method/laborato ry performances and concentrations obtained therefrom with best estima te concentration values for a wide range of elements and materials. Pe rformance parameters included within and between laboratory precision, accuracy (bias), element applicability and matrix effects. A brief as sessment is presented of methodology/laboratory performance during thi s characterization exercise for the seven generic methods: atomic abso rption spectrometry (AAS), atomic emission spectrometry (AES), mass sp ectrometry (MS), neutron activation analysis (NAA), X-ray emission spe ctrometry (XRES), (molecular) light absorption spectrometry (light AS) and electrochemistry (EC) coupled with a variety of sample treatment, ashing and digestion approaches.