Standardmethod

Standardmethod refers to an established, formally documented procedure that is widely accepted within a discipline as a benchmark for conducting analysis, measurement, or experimentation. A standard method provides a defined sequence of steps, required materials and equipment, conditions, and criteria for evaluating results, with the aim of ensuring comparability and reproducibility across laboratories, teams, or projects. Standard methods are typically developed, reviewed, and published by standards organizations, professional societies, or industry consortia, and may be updated to reflect advances in knowledge or technology. They are often subjected to interlaboratory validation or proficiency testing before adoption and may be incorporated into quality management systems or regulatory frameworks.

In practice, standard methods cover analytical techniques (e.g., titration, spectroscopy), sample collection and preparation, measurement units, and acceptance criteria. They are applied in regulated fields such as environmental testing, clinical laboratories, manufacturing, and construction. There can be national, regional, or international versions of a standard method, and organizations may maintain compendia of methods, such as the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, which is widely used in environmental analytics.

Although the term standard method is often used interchangeably with standard operating procedure or validated method, it emphasizes formal acceptance and broad comparability. Users are expected to follow the method as written, document deviations, and participate in ongoing verification to ensure continued reliability.

Related topics include ISO standards, ASTM standards, and compendia of environmental analysis methods.