FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the differences between Reference Materials (RM) and Certified Reference Materials (CRM) ?

Reference Materials (RM) A material or substance one or more of whose property values are sufficiently homogeneous and well established to be used for the calibration of an apparatus, the assessment of a measurement method, or for assigning values to materials.

Certified Reference Materials (CRM) A Reference Material, accompanied by a certificate, one or more of whose property values are certified by a procedure which establishes its traceability to an accurate realisation of the unit in which the property values are expressed and for which each certified value is accompanied by an uncertainty at a stated level of confidence.

What are Reference Materials?

Most instrumentation is comparative and so requires a sample of known composition for accurate calibration. Reference Materials (RMs) and Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) are produced under stringent manufacturing procedures and provide certified and traceable data, which allows accurate calibration. A full definition for RMs and CRMs can be found in the ISO Guide No 30 (1992 Edition).

Why do we need Reference Materials?

The demand for reference materials - 'controls' used to check the quality and traceability of products - is growing rapidly on the international stage. Virtually every industry from food to pharmaceuticals, sports to aerospace, is required to test what it produces against a reference material in order to comply with industry quality standards. Growing consumer demand for accurate product information and a steady increase in the amount and complexity of EU regulation will further fuel dramatic growth. In addition, headline grabbing issues such as BSE, GM foods and drugs testing in sports have highlighted the need for the accurate detection and measurement of substances.