8.3 General Aspects of Quality in Analytical Chemistry
317
8.3 General Aspects of Quality in Analytical Chemistry
A combination of the analytical chemical principles dealt with in the preceding
chapters and the generic approach to quality described in the previous section
allows one to define and expand the facets of the Analytical Chemistry-Quality
binomial. The aim is to answer the elementary questions of Fig. 8.5: why is the
systematic institution of quality systems in the analytical domain justified?; how
should quality systems be implemented?; where should they be applied?; when
should they be launched?
8.3.1 Types of Quality in Analytical Chemistry
No approach to quality in Analytical Chemistry can be effective unless what is to
be attributed quality is clearly established. Figure 8.6 schematizes the different
facets of quality in Analytical Chemistry, ranked according to significance and
scope.
One immediate distinction is that between external quality, which is quality
as perceived by the client or end user, and as such external to the laboratory, and
analytical quality, which helps achieve external quality by satisfying the client's
or end user's information needs. These two concepts are frequently confused and
a source of error in the specialized literature.
Analytical quality encompasses several elements that can be ranked according to significance and dependence. Thus, the quality of the results produced relies on the quality of the CMPs implemented, which in turn depends on
the quality of the work and its organization, as well as on the quality of the tools
used, both of the methodological (e. g. calibration methods) and of the material
type (instruments, apparatus, reagents, standards).
This hierarchy allows one to deal systematically with the different facets
of quality in Analytical Chemistry in a proper manner. Not only the significance sequence, but also the notions inherent in analytical quality, are important.
WHY?
HOW?
WHEN?
WHERE?
Fig. 8.5. General questions arising in approaching quality in Analytical Chemistry
317
8.3 General Aspects of Quality in Analytical Chemistry
A combination of the analytical chemical principles dealt with in the preceding
chapters and the generic approach to quality described in the previous section
allows one to define and expand the facets of the Analytical Chemistry-Quality
binomial. The aim is to answer the elementary questions of Fig. 8.5: why is the
systematic institution of quality systems in the analytical domain justified?; how
should quality systems be implemented?; where should they be applied?; when
should they be launched?
8.3.1 Types of Quality in Analytical Chemistry
No approach to quality in Analytical Chemistry can be effective unless what is to
be attributed quality is clearly established. Figure 8.6 schematizes the different
facets of quality in Analytical Chemistry, ranked according to significance and
scope.
One immediate distinction is that between external quality, which is quality
as perceived by the client or end user, and as such external to the laboratory, and
analytical quality, which helps achieve external quality by satisfying the client's
or end user's information needs. These two concepts are frequently confused and
a source of error in the specialized literature.
Analytical quality encompasses several elements that can be ranked according to significance and dependence. Thus, the quality of the results produced relies on the quality of the CMPs implemented, which in turn depends on
the quality of the work and its organization, as well as on the quality of the tools
used, both of the methodological (e. g. calibration methods) and of the material
type (instruments, apparatus, reagents, standards).
This hierarchy allows one to deal systematically with the different facets
of quality in Analytical Chemistry in a proper manner. Not only the significance sequence, but also the notions inherent in analytical quality, are important.
WHY?
HOW?
WHEN?
WHERE?
Fig. 8.5. General questions arising in approaching quality in Analytical Chemistry