Kvantifiseringsgrense

Kvantifiseringsgrense refers to the smallest amount of a substance or signal that can be reliably detected and measured by a particular analytical instrument or method. Below this limit, the instrument cannot distinguish the signal from background noise or instrumental fluctuations, making accurate quantification impossible.

This concept is crucial in various scientific fields, including analytical chemistry, environmental monitoring, and medical diagnostics. For instance, in environmental testing, the kvantifiseringsgrense of a method determines the lowest concentration of a pollutant that can be reported. In medical tests, it dictates the minimum level of a biomarker that can be reliably identified in a patient's sample.

Different analytical techniques have different kvantifiseringsgrenser, influenced by factors such as sensitivity, precision, and the presence of interfering substances. Lowering the kvantifiseringsgrense is often a goal in analytical method development, as it allows for the detection and measurement of substances at much lower concentrations, leading to more comprehensive analyses and earlier detection of phenomena. It is important to distinguish the kvantifiseringsgrense from the deteksjonsgrense, which is the lowest concentration that can be detected, but not necessarily quantified with acceptable accuracy.