1st worldwide interlaboratory study on perfluorinated compounds in human and environmental matrices : final report

Abstract

This first worldwide interlaboratory study on the determination of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in environmental and human matrices was conducted in 2005. The main objective was to assess the betweenlaboratory reproducibility for various PFCs in a number of matrices: fish muscle tissue, freshwater, human plasma and whole blood. In addition, a standard solution and a clean fish extract were included in the study to evaluate instrumental and quantitation performance. Thirty-eight laboratories from 13 countries participated in the analysis of one or several matrices. In general, the level of agreement between the participating laboratories decreased with increasing complexity of the matrix. Relatively good agreement between the laboratories was obtained for the study standard, the fish extract, the whole blood and plasma sample. On the other hand little agreement was obtained for the fish tissue and the water sample. Extraction and clean-up showed large effects on the results for the more difficult matrices. Although much information was gained from this first interlaboratory study, a second interlaboratory study is recommended to further improve the PFC data quality. That study will possibly be organised in early 2006