Calibration and quality control materials

Abstract

One of the prerequisites for the attainment of "accurate" analytical results in clinical chemistry is the use of suitable calibration materials and solutions. In addition, both precision and accuracy must be monitored using suitable control specimens which are independent of the calibration materials used. The differences between calibration materials and control materials are pointed out. Those characteristics are described which are of importance in calibration materials and control materials if these materials are to serve their purpose well. These characteristics are summarized at the end of the paper, and they represent the minimal information that the manufacturer should provide with his calibration and control materials. We have reached a stage where it is important to decide which of these characteristics are important and to make recommendations for the provision of the necessary information. However, we do not yet have enough experience to justify a final decision on how to quantify some of these characteristics or what the allowable limits should be.