Referenceprøver

Referenceprøver are standardized materials used to calibrate, validate, and monitor analytical methods. They have well-characterized properties and, in many cases, values assigned by a recognized authority, with uncertainties. The primary purpose is to ensure comparability and traceability of results across instruments, laboratories, and over time. Referenceprøver support method validation, quality control, instrument calibration, and proficiency testing. They help detect bias, drift, or interference in measurements and allow laboratories to demonstrate measurement accuracy.

Categories include certified reference materials (CRMs), which come with a certificate detailing the assigned value, material composition, traceability to SI units, and uncertainty; and reference materials (RMs) that may have a known property but without a formal certification. Proficiency testing materials are used to assess laboratory performance by comparing results across laboratories.

Referenceprøver are produced by national metrology institutes, international organizations, and specialized suppliers. Common domains include clinical chemistry (reference sera, control sera, standards for analytes like glucose or cholesterol), molecular biology (DNA/RNA reference sequences or copy numbers), environmental analysis (trace metals, pollutants), and forensics (control materials with defined genetic or chemical profiles).

Handling and storage require adherence to supplier instructions: protected from degradation, proper reconstitution if supplied dry, defined aliquoting, and traceable documentation. They are integral to quality management systems such as ISO 17025 and ISO 17034, which govern laboratory competence and the certification of reference materials.