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3 Traceability: Reference Materials
TRACEABILITY OF A RESULT
Traceability of
standards
-------- - ----- -- - --- -- - -'"
Accuracy
- .. - ... -- -- - - - ----- - ---- -- - - --,
,
Traceabi lity of
sample (aliquot)
-- ---- - ...
~ - Representativeness:'
,
-
... ... _--- _ ... -
Fig. 3.16. Secondary meanings of traceability in chemical metrology, on which the primary
concept "traceability of a result" rests, and relationships to capital analytical properties
The traceability of a sample aliquot bears no direct relation to the traditional
concept of traceability in the results; however, it provides solid technical support
for the traceability of a result inasmuch as it relates it to representativeness, a
capital analytical property as crucial as accuracy to the characterization of the
result. This is consistent with the comprehensive, integral approach to traceability presented in this chapter.