TrainMiC®: Providing a Tool for the Inter-Calibration of Technical Assessors in Europe in the Area of Chemical Measurements

The TrainMiC® (Training in Metrology in Chemistry) programme is a European programme for Life-Long Learning in metrology in chemistry, which is a truly unique system operational across many parts of Europe (19 countries) via national teams. It uses shareware pedagogic tools and the learning content has been harmonised at the European level by a joint effort of many experts across Europe working via an Editorial Board. This paper gives an overview of the activities within the TrainMiC® programme where there is an interaction with national accreditation bodies and the European Cooperation for Accreditation. It is the responsibility of the accreditation bodies to ensure that outcome of the assessments is reliable and transparent and is meeting the relevant requirements. The paper explains the potential of TrainMiC® in providing a tool for accreditation bodies to ensure a harmonised level of knowledge in a specific sector of those who are involved in technical assessments for accreditation in the field of chemical measurements. Some use the word inter-calibration to describe this process

Source Apportionment of Nitrate Pollution in Surface Water Using Stable Isotopes of N and O in Nitrate and B: A Case Study in Flanders (Belgium)

Excess application to fields of animal manure or mineral fertilizers is generally assumed to be the major source of nitrate pollution in surface and groundwater in agricultural areas in Flanders (Belgium). The Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) suspects, but could not prove, that discharges of untreated domestic sewage or discharges containing mineral fertilizers from hydroculture in greenhouses are also contributing to the nitrate pollution observed in some of the agricultural areas. The objective of this study was to investigate, using stable isotope data of dissolved nitrate and boron, if these suspected sources significantly contribute to the nitrate pollution observed in selected surface water monitoring points in Flanders.JRC.D.4-Isotope measurement

TrainMiC, Training in Metrology in Chemistry.

Abstract not availableJRC.D-Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (Geel

Some considerations on the use of certified reference materials in the spectrochemical measuring instruments calibration

In various measurement areas such as the quality of life and environment monitoring, the public health and food quality, there are performed a large variety of spectrochemical measurement techniques, such as, by molecular spectrometry (UV-VIS), by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP), by optical emission spectrometry (OES), by X-ray spectrometry etc. The metrological calibration of these instruments are instrument´specific. Some related metrological concepts and practical example regarding the linear calibration of the optical emission instruments by using certified reference materials are presented

About traceability of the biochemical measurement results – some case studies on the metrological and practical aspects

The comparability of biochemical measurement results performed by any medical laboratories could be reached only when common reference systems can be established for worldwide use. There is recognised a critical step in the reference systems to achieve traceability of values obtained using reference measurement procedures and reference materials traceable to the universally recognized and accepted reference point such as SI units. The IVD Directive requires traceability of the values assigned to calibrators and/or control materials. It must be assured through available reference measurement procedure and/or available reference materials of a higher order. In this respect, the JCTLM promote and give guidance on internationally recognized and accepted equivalence of measurements in laboratory medicine and traceability to appropriate measurement standards. There are already established higher order metrological reference materials, reference measurement procedures as well as reference measurement services for some biochemical analytes. In laboratories medicine, the metrological traceability and the related metrological concept measurement uncertainty are not always possible to be established. In this paper some traceability case studies for biochemical constituents are presented in opposite with some case studies for hematology measurements performed in medical laboratories

Metrology in Chemistry: Status Report of Romania.

Abstract not availableJRC.D-Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (Geel

Updated Certified Values of the Lithium Isotopic Reference Materials IRMM-016, IRMM-015 and IRMM-615

The current certificates issued by IRMM are based on the old lithium mixtures. Since then, new synthetic mixtures were prepared. In this paper, we present the updated certified values of isotopic reference materials IRMM-016, IRMM-015 as well as IRMM-615, based on the new synthetic mixture of highly enriched lithium isotopes. The new re-evaluated value of the certified isotope ratio of IRMM-016 was taken into account for the certification of IRMM-015. The re-certification of isotopic reference material (spike) IRMM-615 comes with certified amount content and a certified isotope amount ratio. This material is based on the same Li2CO3 base material as IRMM-015. All the isotope amount ratios were determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), the most commonly applied technique for lithium isotopic ratio measurements.JRC.D.4-Isotope measurement

Meeting Report of the First TrainMiC Event in Bucharest, Romania 17-18 March 2003

Abstract not availableJRC.D-Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (Geel

Supporting Metrology in Chemistry in EU Candidate Countries via IRMM Training Platform, TrainMiC.

Abstract not availableJRC.D-Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (Geel

Practical Aspects of the Uncertainty and Traceability of Spectrochemical Measurement Results by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

The paper presents an example leading to the evaluation of the measurement uncertainty of copper detrmination in water using GF-AAS. The major contributors to the overall uncertainty are identified and quantified. The practical aspects how traceability of the result can be demonstrated are also presented.JRC.D.4-Isotope measurement