News
18-Nov-2008 - LGC Standards launches 'Higher order reference
materials' catalogue
A special range of reference materials, mainly from national
metrology institutes, are included in the new 'Higher order
reference materials' catalogue from LGC Standards.
LGC Standards has launched a new
catalogue of 'Higher order reference materials'. The term 'higher
order' stems from the European directive on in vitro
diagnostic (IVD) medical devices (directive 98/79/EC). It includes
primary calibrators, i.e. materials that are used to calibrate
reference measurement procedures.
Higher order reference materials are produced
by institutes or international organisations with responsibility
for metrological traceability. The materials have been thoroughly
characterised using the best available measurement procedures,
sometimes as part of an interlaboratory comparison between national
metrology institutes. The uncertainty of the materials’ property
values should, therefore, be the smallest attainable.
Higher order reference materials are primarily
associated with clinical measurements. A Joint Committee for
Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM) has been set up, one of
its tasks being to identify higher order reference materials. This
catalogue has been checked against information provided by the
JCTLM until July 2008. It is, however,
equally important to identify primary calibrators in other
analytical fields. Future editions of this catalogue may,
therefore, list materials used to calibrate measurements in other
fields.
All higher order reference materials are sold
with detailed certificates of analysis, where in addition to the
certified properties, their associated uncertainty and metrological
traceability, instructions for storage, handling and use are also
described. Several producers, such as the
IRMM
,
provide on request, a certification report. This is a detailed
report about manufacturing, quality control and certification
procedures including the results from external organisations.
The production of higher order reference
materials underpins the national and/or international measurement
infrastructure. The producers have a key role in developing,
supporting and promoting good measurement practice. The cost of
production is partially covered by government or other funding and,
therefore, the sales price does not fully represent the true cost
of production, characterisation and certification.
To obtain your copy of the new catalogue,
please contact LGC Standards by email at askus@lgcstandards.com
or Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 8480.
Notes to Editors