Traceability

Traceability (English: traceability ), also metrological traceability , is a term of art in the field of metrology , and analytical chemistry and describes a property of measurement results.

According to the International Dictionary of Metrology (VIM), Definition 2.41, the term traceability describes a property through which a measurement result can be related to a standard or is related to it.

A traceable measured value is related to a recognized standard through an uninterrupted chain of comparison measurements with a known measurement uncertainty . This standard can e.g. B. be an SI unit . For each of these comparison measurements, the result of the comparison is less significant than the standard used . This results in a calibration hierarchy or traceability hierarchy.

Traceability is characterized by several essential elements:

• an unbroken chain of comparisons based on a recognized standard, usually on an SI unit

• Defined measurement uncertainty : the measurement uncertainty is calculated and specified for each step so that the total uncertainty can be calculated

• Documentation: every step (including the result) has been carried out according to generally recognized procedures

• Competence : The laboratories that carry out the process must be competent for this. B. can be confirmed by their accreditation

• Recalibrations; Calibrations must be carried out at an interval appropriate for the application.

Notes:
The German-language editions of ISO 9000: 2015 use the term traceability for this term (Definition 3.6.13)
The German-language editions of ISO 9001: 2015 use the term metrological traceability for this term (Chapter 7.1.5.2)

See also

• Traceability
• Proficiency test
• quality control

literature

• Paul De Bièvre, Helmut Gunzler: Traceability in Chemical Measurement . Springer, 2005, ISBN 3-540-43989-7 , doi : 10.1007 / b138593 .
• VIM (Vocabulary in Metrology), in particular Definition 2.41: VIM on the BIPM website (PDF; 3.5 MB)
• Beuth, International Dictionary of Metrology, ISBN 978-3-410-22472-3

Web links

• NIST Traceability FAQ
• Metrological Traceability in Chemical Measurement

Individual evidence

1. ^ Burghart Brinkmann: International dictionary of metrology. Basic and general terms and associated terms (VIM). German-English version. ISO / IEC Guide 99: 2007. Corrected version 2012. 4th edition. Beuth, Berlin 2012, ISBN 978-3-410-22472-3 , pp. 44 ( limited preview in Google Book search).