Letter to the Editor: Analytical chemistry and metrology have scientific basis

Recently, Jens Andersen shared his personal view on quality assurance with the readership of Trends in Analytical Chemistry. Many of his observations are supported by findings of the JRC-Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) and metrology institutions cooperating, for instance, in the Consultative Committee on the Amount of Substance: Metrology in Chemistry (CCQM) of the International Committee on Weights and Measures (CIPM). However, I am puzzled by some of the statements and conclusions, which seem to be in contradiction to modern metrological concepts and experiences. The major disagreements seem to come from the author's attempt to classify analytical chemistry under ‘‘consensus science’’, his emphasis on statistical aspects when trying to explain differences among analytical results and some misunderstandings concerning the concept ‘‘measurement uncertainty’’.

EMONS Hendrik; 

2013-07-11

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

JRC82271

0165-9936,   

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165993613001209,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC82271,   

10.1016/j.trac.2013.05.002,