Laboratoriumunits

Laboratoriumunits is a term used to describe the collection of measurement units and scales employed within laboratories to express experimental results. The concept encompasses both standard SI-based units and non-SI units that are defined by a laboratory for internal use. In practice, laboratories often combine universally recognized units, such as meters, liters, and kilograms, with derived or non-SI units that are specific to a technique or instrument. For example, arbitrary units (AU) or relative light units (RLU) may be used in assays where the signal is proportional to concentration but not directly convertible to an absolute quantity without a calibration curve.

A key feature of laboratoriumunits is traceability. Even when non-standard units are used, laboratories typically establish a documented link to SI units through calibration against reference standards, instrument responses, or established conversion factors. This ensures that results remain interpretable and comparable within the same lab and, where possible, across different laboratories.

Common contexts for laboratoriumunits include analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and clinical laboratories. In these settings, non-SI units are often accompanied by explicit definitions, including the method of measurement, the calibration procedure, and the reported uncertainty. This practice helps mitigate ambiguity and supports quality assurance frameworks such as ISO/IEC 17025.

The term is not a universal standard and may be used differently across institutions. Clear documentation of unit definitions, calibration statuses, and conversion relationships is essential to maintain data integrity and enable reliable data exchange.