Quality specifications based on the uncertainty of measurement

The result of a measurement needs to be accompanied by information on the e rror or uncertainty of the measurement. Either of two very closely related concepts is thus required to indicate the usefulness and relevance of a res ult for its purpose: decision making. This presentation will outline the di fference between the concept of error and that of uncertainty and deal with procedures to estimate the latter. The use of a spreadsheet program will i llustrate how the combined uncertainty is estimated in a relatively complex situation with a bearing on laboratory medicine.