Measurement Uncertainty for Laboratory Customers

Details

Category: Information leaflets

Last Updated: Friday, 06 February 2026 14:52

Contents

This information leaflet is intended for customers of laboratories perfoming chemical analyses.The leaflet tells customers why laboratories report measurement uncertainty.  It is based on the Swedish leaflet SP INFO 2000:23 which was prepared by SP and FaL in collaboration with the Swedish EPA, The Swedish National food Administration, VAV and Swedac, with support from the Swedish SME-project KMoo P0 07313. The English version on this website has been prepared together with Eurachem, Eurolab, EA and EMPA.

Availability

• View/download the document in English (pdf, 560 kB)
• View/download the document in German (pdf, 570 kB)
• View/download the document in Portuguese (pdf, 590 kB)
• View/download the document in Turkish (pdf, 880 kB)

Translations

Translation into other languages is permitted for members of Eurachem, by kind permission of RISE, Sweden (formerly SP). Please contact the MU&T WG Secretary to confirm permission and for source files.

The importance of being fit for purpose

Details

Category: Information leaflets

Last Updated: Friday, 06 February 2026 14:52

Content

Method validation is an important requirement in the practice of analytical science. ISO/IEC 17025, OECD guidelines on Good Manufacturing Practice and many similar codes of practice require some level of validation, whether by verification of the laboratory's implementation of published standard methods, or by comprehensive validation studies of new, in-house, procedures. Most analytical chemists are aware of its importance, but why it should be done, when, and exactly what needs to be done, is not always clear.

This leaflet, prepared by the Eurachem Method Validation working group, gives a brief introduction to the overall process of validation and the key performance characteristics to be studied, and provides pointers to more detailed guidance.

Availability

• Download the leaflet in English (PDF, 251 kB) (Published 2025_11_13)*

Translation

Please consult the Method Validation Working Group if you would like to prepare a translation in your own language.

Previous editions

Earlier editions of this leaflet, including translations in Fasi, german and Turkish, can be found in the publication archive.

*Publication dates are dates of website publication. English version first published on this site on 2025_11_13.

Traceability of Analytical Results

Details

Category: Information leaflets

Last Updated: Friday, 06 February 2026 14:52

Content

This information leaflet is intended for laboratories perfoming chemical analyses. It has been prepared by the Eurachem Measurement Uncertainty and Tracability Working Group to summarise the principles of metrological traceability in routine testing. It follows the general principles of the Eurachem Guide "Traceability in Chemical Measurement", which is available here.

The leaflet was first issued in 2005. A revised version, updated for relevance to ISO/IEC 17025:2017, was published in 2019.

Availability

• View the document (2019 edition) in English (pdf, 600 kB) (new window).
• View the document (2019 edition) in Czech (pdf, 549 kB) (new window).
• View the document (2019 edition) in Farsi (pdf, 828 kB) (new window).
• View the document (2019 edition) in German (pdf, 748 kB) (new window).
• View the document (2019 edition) in Turkish (pdf, 600 kB) (new window).
• View the document (2019 edition) in Ukrainian (pdf, 444 kB) (new window).

Translation

Translation into other languages is encouraged for members of Eurachem. Other offers of translation should be directed to the Eurachem Secretariat for permission. The Eurachem policy on maintenance and development of Eurachem guidance, available on the Policies page, gives further information on translation.

Previous editions

Earlier editions of this leaflet, including translations in Spanish and Portuguese, can be found in the publication archive.

Use of uncertainty information in compliance (2021)

Details

Category: Information leaflets

Last Updated: Friday, 06 February 2026 14:52

Content

This information leaflet is intended for laboratories perfoming chemical analyses. It has been prepared by the Eurachem Measurement Uncertainty and Tracability Working Group (see here for details) to introduce the use of decision rules and guard bands in interpreting results accompanied by measurement uncertainty information. The leaflet summarises the principles described in the Eurachem Guide "Use of uncertainty information in compliance assessment", which is available here.

This revised edition of this information leaflet is amended to reflect changes in the second edition of the compliance Guide.

Availability

• View the leaflet in English (pdf, 132 kB) (Published* 2021-04-29)
• View the leaflet in Farsi (pdf, 323 kB) (Published 2021-12-09**)
• View the leaflet in German (pdf, 449 kB) (Published 2021-11-11)
• View the leaflet in Ukrainian (pdf, 252 kB) (Published 2022-07-31)

* Publication dates are dates of publication on this website.

** First published 2021-09-01; amended 2021-12-09.

Translation

Translation into other languages is encouraged for members of Eurachem. Other offers of translation should be directed to the Eurachem Secretariat for permission. The Eurachem policy on maintenance and development of Eurachem guidance, available on the Policies page, gives further information on translation.

Note: The previous (2015) edition is available in English, Czech, Estonian, Finnish, Portuguese, Turkish and Ukrainian.

Previous editions

The previous edition of this leaflet can be found here.