This list of resources gives access to relevant information with respect to certified reference materials (CRMs). Reference materials play a critical role in quality assurance and contribute to the process of establishing traceability of units used to report laboratory results. The use of appropriate reference materials is an important aspect of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025.
A Certified Reference Material (CRM) is a reference material characterized by a metrologically valid procedure for one or more specified properties, accompanied by a certificate that provides the value of the specified property, its associated uncertainty, and a statement of metrological traceability.
Related EVISA Resources
Material Database: Certified Reference Materials
Company Database: Producers of CRMs Company Database: Producers of Reference materials Company Database: Producers of Standards
Journal Database: Journals related to Metrology Journal Database: Journals related to Quality Control and Quality Assurance
Link Page: All about QA/QC
Brief summary: Certified Reference Materials for Speciation Analysis Brief summary: EVISA's Material Database
Related guidelines EURACHEM EEE/RM/062rev3: The Selection and use of Reference Materials (2002) ILAC G17:2002 Introducing the Concept of Uncertainty of Measurement in Testing in Association with the Application of the Standard ISO/IEC 17025 – under revision
This document describes how the concept of uncertainty of measurement should be introduced taking into account present state of the art understanding. It is realised that during the course of the implementation of ISO/IEC 17025, suitable sector-specific guidance will be needed. However, the harmonisation of the application of the principles of uncertainty of measurement in testing between different disciplines, industry sectors and economies should remain the main goal. (Proposed revisions are on hold until current revisions of ISO/IEC 17025 and GUM are finalised in relation to this topic.)
ISO Guide 30: 1992 - Terms and definitions used in connection with reference materials
ISO Guide 31: 2000 - Contents of certificates & labels of reference materials
ISO Guide 32: 1997 - Calibration in analytical chemistry and use of certified reference materials
ISO Guide 33: 2000 - Uses of certified reference materials
ISO Guide 34: 2009 - General requirements for the competence of reference material producers
ISO Guide 35: 2006 - Reference materials - General and statistical principles for certification
ISO Technical report 10989 (2008) Reference materials - Guidance on, and keywords used for RM categorisation
NIST Special Publication 260-100 (1993): Standard Reference Materials - Handbook for SRM Users NIST Special Publication 260-125: Standard Reference Materials: Statistical aspects of the certification of chemical batch SRMs WHO: Recommendations for the preparation, characterization and establishment
of international and other biological reference standards (revised
2004) Related Literature S.J. Nagourney, S.A. Wilson, S.E. Long,
Using reference materials to improve the quality of data generated by USEPA analytical methods, Environ. Sci. Processes Impacts, 18/12 (2016) 1477-1483. doi:
10.1039/c6em00438e Katherine E. Sharpless, Katrice A. Lippa, David L. Duewer, Andrew L. Rukhin,
The ABC of Using Standard Reference Materials in the Analysis of Foods and Dietary Supplements: A Practical Guide,
NIST Special Publication 260-181, 2014.
K. Kupiec, P. Konieczka, J. Namiesnik,
Prospects for the Production, Research and Utilization of Reference Materials, Crit. Rev. Anal. Chem., 39/4 (2009) 311-322.
DOI: 10.1080/10408340903253182 T. Venelinov, A. Sahuquillo,
Optimizing the uses and the costs of reference materials in analytical laboratories, Trends Anal. Chem., 25/5 (2006) 528-533.
DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2006.02.006 Hendrik Emons, Andrea Held, Franz Ulberth,
Reference materials as crucial tools for quality assurance and control in food analysis, Pure Appl. Chem., 78/1 (2006) 135-143.
DOI: 10.1351/pac200678010135 M. Thompson, S.L.R. Ellison, R. Wood,
The international harmonized protocol for the proficiency testing of analytical chemistry laboratories, Pure Appl. Chem. 78 (2006) 145-196.
doi:10.1351/pac200678010145 Lars Jorhem,
Certified reference materials as a quality tool in food control: much used- often misused- sometimes abused, Accred. Qual. Assur., 9/6 (2004) 305-310.
DOI: 10.1007/s00769-003-0744-3 R. Cornelis, H. Crews, O.F.X. Donard, L. Ebdon, P. Quevauviller,
Trends in certified reference materials for the speciation of trace elements, Fresenius J. Anal. Chem., 370/2-3 (2001) 120-125.
DOI: 10.1007/s002160100709
Thomas P.J. Linsinger, Jean Pauwels, Adriaan M.H. van der Veen, Heinz Schimmel, Andre Lamberty,
Homogeneity and stability of reference materials, Accred. Qual. Assur., 6/1 (2001) 20–25.
DOI: 10.1007/s007690000261 Thomas P.J. Linsinger, Jean Pauwels, Andre Lamberty, Heinz Schimmel, Adriaan M.H. van der Veen, Lothar Siekman,
Estimating the uncertainty of stability for matrix CRMs, Fres. J. Anal. Chem., 370 (2001) 183-188.
DOI: 10.1007/s002160100719 M. May, R. Parris, J. Beck, J. Fassett, R. Greenberg, F. Guenther, G. Kramer, S. Wise, T. Gills, J. Colbert, R. Gettings, B. MacDonald,
Definitions of Terms and Modes Used at NIST for Value-Assignment of Reference Materials for Chemical Measurements,
Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 260-136, 2000. Bernhard Michalke,
Quality control and reference materials in speciation analysis, Fresenius J. Anal. Chem., 363 (1999) 439–445.
DOI: 10.1007/s002160051219 J.S. Kane, P.J. Potts,
ISO guides for reference material certification and use: Application to geochemical reference materials, Geostandards Newsletter, 21 (1997) 51-58.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-908X.1997.tb00531.x S. Landsberger,
The Use of Certified Reference Materials in Environmental and Ecological Elemental Analysis, Chem. Ecol., 2/1 (1984) 3-9.
DOI: 10.1080/02757548408070816 J. Paul Cali,
The Role of Reference Materials in the Analytical Laboratory, Fres. Z. Anal. Chem., 297 (1979) 1-3.
DOI: 10.1007/BF00487739
On-line catalogues for standards, reference materials and CRMs Absolute Standards, Inc. AccuStandard AMIS - African Mineral Standards ARMI - Analytical Reference Materials International ASO Design Canada BAM - Federal Institute for Materials Research BAS - Bureau of Analysed Samples Brammer Standard Breitländer CCRMP - Natural Resources Canada's Canadian Certified Reference Materials Project Cerilliant Analytical Reference Standards CGL- Central Geological Laboratory of Mongolia Chem-Lab CONOSTAN - Oil Analysis Standards CRPG - Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques Dillinger Hütte (Alloys, Oxides, Iron & Steels) Dr. Ehrenstorfer GmbH Elements ERA ERM- European Reference Materials Exasol Corp. - Inorganic Standards and Reference Materials for use in ICP, ICP-MS, AA, GFAA and IC Geostats Global Proficiency Reference Materials HPS - High Purity Standards IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency IAG - International Association of Geoanalysts - Reference materials for geochemical analysis including Microanalytical Reference Materials ielab (Spain) INCT/ICHTJ: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology IPT - Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas (Brazil) iv - Inorganic Ventures IVIC -
Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas
JRC - Joint Research Center
LBMA - London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) : Gold and Silver Certified Reference Materials LGC Standards LNE - Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais MBH - Reference Materials for spectrochemical analysis NBL - CRMs for use in nuclear and nuclear-related analytical measurement activities NIES - National Institute for Environmental Studies (Japan) NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology NMI (Australia) NMIJ - National Metrology Institute of Japan NML India - National Metallurgical Laboratory NRC Institute for National Measurement Standards NSI Solutions o2si smart solutions (Organic Standard Solutions International, LLC) OREAS - Ore Research & Exploration Pty Ltd Assay Standards Certified Reference Materials for Mining & Exploration Paragon Scientific (standards for petroleum and derivative products testing) READE - Minerals and Ores ReCCS - Reference Material Institute for Clinical Chemistry Standards RESTEK - Chromatography Products and Solutions ROMIL (Single- and Multi-component reference solutions) RTC SABS - South African Bureau of Standards SCP Science (EnviroMAT, AgroMAT Certified Reference Materials) Sigma-Aldrich Society of Glass Technology SPEX Certiprep TechLab Ultra Scientific - Single and multielement calibration standards USGS - United States Geological Survey USP - U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention VHG Labs WEPAL: Wageningen Evaluating Programs for Analytical Laboratories WHO - Reference materials (International Reference Preparations) of blood products and related biologicals
Database search for CRMs COMARThe
COMAR International database for certified reference materials lists thousands (~ 10200) of certified reference materials
(CRMs) produced world-wide by about 220 producers in 25 countries.
EVISAEVISA's Material Database lists materials used for trace element and speciation analysis (including CRMs, RMs, isotopic materials, calibration standards etc.)
FLUXearchDatabase for metallic reference materials provided by FLUXANA
GeoReM
GeoReM is a Max Planck Institute database for reference materials of geological and environmental interest, such as rock powders, synthetic and natural glasses as well as mineral, isotopic, biological, river water and seawater reference materials.
JCTML-DBThe Joint Committee for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM) offers a database for higher-order reference materials for laboratory medicine and in vitro diagnostics.
RMinfoThe Reference materials total information service of Japan (RMinfo) is maintained by NITE and offers a database for Japanese reference materials and links to COMAR and NIST.
EVISA News related to CRMs
March 25, 2018: New CRM for trace metals in chocolate released (ERM-BD512) January 16, 2017: Use of certified reference materials (CRMs) for speciation analysis January 5, 2017: ERM-AE671: A new Certified Reference Material to make methylmercury measurements in food more reliable February 15, 2013: JRC-IRMM has released ERM-BC211 certified rice reference material May 3, 2011: New reference materials for the characterisation of selenium-enriched food products March 20, 2011: Stability of Reference Materials for Speciation Analysis
November 23, 2010: New certified reference material supporting mercury speciation analysis of blood September 28, 2009: New Beryllium Reference Material for Occupational Safety Monitoring September 10, 2009: Speciation Analysis - Striving for Quality
February 3, 2009: New Reference Material for Hexavalent Chromium in Contaminated Soil November 15, 2005: NIST/EPA/NJ DEP embark on the preparation of a soil reference materials for chromium speciation August 2, 2005: New CRM for Selenomethionine in yeast developed by NRC Canada is now on the market May 6, 2004: Reference materials producers launch new European initiativelast time modified: October 16, 2020
