Quality assurance and accreditation in analytical chemistry laboratories is an important issue on the national and international scale. The book presents currently used methods to assure the quality of analytical results and it describes accreditation procedures for the mutual recognition of these results. The book describes in detail the accreditation systems in 13 European countries and the present situation in the United States of America. The editor also places high value on accreditation and certification practice and on the relevant legislation in Europe. The appendix lists invaluable information on important European accreditation organizations.

Quality Assurance in Chemical Measurement, an advanced EURACHEM textbook, provides in-depth but easy-to-understand coverage for training, teaching and continuing studies. The CD-ROM accompanying the book contains course materials produced by ten experienced specialists, including more than 750 overheads (graphics and text) in ready-to-use PowerPoint® documents in English and German language. The book will serve as an advanced textbook for analytical chemistry students and professionals in industry and service labs and as a reference text and source of course materials for lecturers. The second edition has been completely revised according to the newest legislation.

The issue of quality assurance in the analytical chemistry laboratory has become of great importance in recent years. Quality Assurance in Analytical Chemistry introduces the reader to the whole concept of quality assurance. It discusses how all aspects of chemical analysis, from sampling and method selection to choice of equipment and the taking and reporting of measurements affect the quality of analytical data. Finally, the implementation and use of quality systems are covered.

Analytical chemical results touch everyones lives can we eat the food? do I have a disease? did the defendant leave his DNA at the crime scene? should I invest in that gold mine? When a chemist measures something how do we know that the result is appropriate? What is fit for purpose in the context of analytical chemistry? Many manufacturing and service companies have embraced traditional statistical approaches to quality assurance, and these have been adopted by analytical chemistry laboratories. However the right chemical answer is never known, so there is not a direct parallel with the manufacture of ball bearings which can be measured and assessed. The customer of the analytical services relies on the quality assurance and quality control procedures adopted by the laboratory. It is the totality of the QA effort, perhaps first brought together in this text, that gives the customer confidence in the result. QA in the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory takes the reader through all aspects of QA, from the statistical basics and quality control tools to becoming accredited to international standards. The latest understanding of concepts such as measurement uncertainty and metrological traceability are explained for a working chemist or her client. How to design experiments to optimize an analytical process is included, together with the necessary statistics to analyze the results. All numerical manipulation and examples are given as Microsoft Excel spreadsheets that can be implemented on any personal computer. Different kinds of interlaboratory studies are explained, and how a laboratory is judged in proficiency testing schemes is described. Accreditation to ISO 17025 or OECD GLP is nearly obligatory for laboratories of any pretension to quality. Here the reader will find an introduction to the requirements and philosophy of accreditation. Whether completing a degree course in chemistry or working in a busy analytical laboratory, this book is a single source for an introduction into quality assurance.

xii a second edition might be in order, and readily agreed. Although the basic principles remain the same, discussions with analysts, laboratory supervisors, and managers indicated many areas where improve ments could be made. For example, new chapters have been added on sampling and quality assurance; laboratory facilities and quality assurance; and auditing for quality assurance. Very little of the first edition has been discarded, but many topics have been expanded considerably. The chapter on computers has been completely rewritten in view of the rapid changes in that field. The chapter in the first edition on planning and organizing for quality assurance has been split into two chapters, one on planning for quality assurance and the other on organizing and establishing a quality assurance program, and new material on mandated quality assurance programs has been combined with the material on laboratory accreditation. Numerous examples, especially those involving mathematical calculations, have been added at the suggestion of some readers. In short, this edition is very nearly a new book, and I can only hope it is as well received as the first edition. CHAPTER 1 Qual ity, Qual ity Control, and Quality Assurance One of the strongest trends in modem society is the continuing ev olution from a manufacturing to a service-oriented economy.

xii a second edition might be in order, and readily agreed. Although the basic principles remain the same, discussions with analysts, laboratory supervisors, and managers indicated many areas where improve ments could be made. For example, new chapters have been added on sampling and quality assurance; laboratory facilities and quality assurance; and auditing for quality assurance. Very little of the first edition has been discarded, but many topics have been expanded considerably. The chapter on computers has been completely rewritten in view of the rapid changes in that field. The chapter in the first edition on planning and organizing for quality assurance has been split into two chapters, one on planning for quality assurance and the other on organizing and establishing a quality assurance program, and new material on mandated quality assurance programs has been combined with the material on laboratory accreditation. Numerous examples, especially those involving mathematical calculations, have been added at the suggestion of some readers. In short, this edition is very nearly a new book, and I can only hope it is as well received as the first edition. CHAPTER 1 Quality, Quality Control, and Quality Assurance One of the strongest trends in modem society is the continuing ev olution from a manufacturing to a service-oriented economy.

This definitive new book should appeal to everyone who produces, uses, or evaluates scientific data. Ensures accuracy and reliability. Dr. Taylor's book provides guidance for the development and implementation of a credible quality assurance program, plus it also provides chemists and clinical chemists, medical and chemical researchers, and all scientists and managers the ideal means to ensure accurate and reliable work. Chapters are presented in a logical progression, starting with the concept of quality assurance, principles of good measurement, principles of quality assurance, and evaluation of measurement quality. Each chapter has a degree of independence so that it may be consulted separately from the others.

This best-selling title both in German and English is now enhanced by a new chapter on the important topical subject of measurement uncertainty, plus a CD-ROM with interactive examples in the form of Excel-spreadsheets. These allow readers to gain an even better comprehension of the statistical procedures for quality assurance while also incorporating their own data. Following an introduction, the text goes on to elucidate the 4-phase model of analytical quality assurance: establishing a new analytical process, preparative quality assurance, routine quality assurance and external analytical quality assurance. Besides updating the relevant references, the authors took great care to incorporate the latest international standards in the field.

W. Funk, V. Dammann, G. Donnevert Quality Assurance in Analytical Chemistry From reviews of the German edition: Especially with a view to the compulsory introduction of quality assurance systems in laboratories for food examination this book will be of great interest. The quality assurance of analytical methods from their development to their application in routine analysis is systematically described. ... This book can be warmly recommended to all analysts as both a textbook and a practice-oriented handbook. Deutsche Lebensmittel-Rundschau It offers valuable help for the training of analysts and is unique in the German analytical literature. ... its goal as a reference source and instruction manual for employees in laboratories and ministries with reference to the strategies of quality assurance in analytical chemistry is exemplarily fulfilled. Österreichische Chemiezeitschrift

A Practical Tool for Learning New Methods Quality assurance and measurement uncertainty in analytical laboratories has become increasingly important. To meet increased scrutiny and keep up with new methods, practitioners very often have to rely on self-study. A practical textbook for students and a self-study tool for analytical laboratory employees, Quality Assurance and Quality Control in the Analytical Chemical Laboratory: A Practical Approach defines the tools used in QA/QC, especially the application of statistical tools during analytical data treatment. Unified Coverage of QA in Analytical Chemistry Clearly written and logically organized, this book delineates the concepts of practical QA/QC, taking a generic approach that can be applied to any field of analysis. Using an approach grounded in hands-on experience, the book begins with the theory behind quality control systems and then moves on to discuss examples of tools such as validation parameter measurements, the use of statistical tests, counting the margin of error, and estimating uncertainty. The authors draw on their experience in uncertainty estimation, traceability, reference materials, statistics, proficiency tests, and method validation to provide practical guidance on each step of the process. Extended Coverage of QC/QA in Analytical and Testing Laboratories Presenting guidance on all aspects of QA and measurement results, the book covers QC/QA in a more complex and extended manner than other books on this topic. This range of coverage supplies an integrated view on measures like the use of reference materials and method validation. With worked-out examples and Excel spreadsheets that users can use to try the concepts themselves, the book provides not only know-what but know-how.