This report describes the additional certification of the mass concentration of Beta-2-microglobulin (B2M) in ERM-DA470k/IFCC, a human serum material. The material was certified following ISO Guide 34:2009.
The material was released in 2008 and was certified for the mass concentration of 12 proteins in human serum. A full description of the processing steps can be found in the original report.
Between unit-homogeneity was quantified and stability during dispatch and storage were assessed in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2006. Within-unit homogeneity was estimated to determine the minimum sample intake.
The material was characterised by an intercomparison among laboratories of demonstrated competence and adhering to ISO/IEC 17025.
Uncertainties of the certified values were calculated in compliance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) and include uncertainties related to possible inhomogeneity, to instability and to characterisation.
The material is intended for the calibration of immunoassay-based in-vitro diagnostic devices or control products for the proteins certified. As for any calibrator it should be verified that it is commutable. The material is produced in a similar manner as ERM-DA470, the use of which has led to a significant reduction in the between-method and between-laboratory variation for the proteins certified (B2M was not certified in this material) [ , ]. It was verified during the value assignment procedure that there were no significant matrix effects, and that different methods produced consistent results. However, when the material is used as a calibrator, the commutability should be verified for the particular assay concerned. The Certified Reference Material (CRM) is available in the lyophilised form of a 1.0 mL portion of serum with additives (4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), sodium azide, benzamidine hydrochloride, sodium chloride and aprotinin). The material is kept under nitrogen gas in threaded glass bottles with rubber stoppers and polypropylene screw caps. The water mass fraction of the sample is (4.3 ± 0.6) mg/g. The lyophilised powder has to be reconstituted with (1.00 ± 0.01) g of distilled water. The minimum amount of reconstituted sample to be used is 2 µL.
The CRM was accepted as European Reference Material (ERM®) after peer evaluation by the partners of the European Reference Materials consortium.JRC.D.2-Standards for Innovation and sustainable Developmen
