alinäytettä

Alinäyte is a sub-sample taken from a larger sample or batch for analysis or testing. The term is used in various fields, including laboratory science, quality control, environmental monitoring and statistics, to describe a portion that stands in for the whole in order to conserve time, material or resources.

The purpose of an alinäyte is to provide information about the larger material without consuming its entire quantity. Selecting an alinäyte involves sampling methods designed to obtain a representative portion, such as random, systematic or stratified sampling. The size and number of alinäytteet depend on the variability of the material, the required accuracy, and the analytical methods available. Proper documentation and traceability, including labeling and storage conditions, are essential to ensure that results can be linked back to the original sample.

In practice, alinäytettä may be analyzed for chemical composition, physical properties or other characteristics. Results obtained from alinäytteet are used to estimate the properties of the whole batch or population, with associated sampling error considered in interpretation. Potential limitations include non-representative sub-sampling, heterogeneity of the material and measurement error. Standards and guidelines from organizations such as ISO or ASTM often govern the procedures for collecting and analyzing alinäytteet, to improve comparability and reliability.

Etymology: alinäyte combines ali- meaning lower or sub-, with näyte meaning sample. See alsonäyte, otanta, and other sampling terms.