Uncertainties in qualitative testing and analysis

Uncertainties in qualitative testing and analysis
Contents: This document has been developed by the Eurachem Measurement Uncertainty Working Group with a view to developing policy and promoting work on the topic. Uncertainties associated with quantitative measurement results have been the subject of considerable activity since the publication of the ISO Guide on the topic. By comparison, the issue of uncertainties in qualitative testing and analysis (referred to elsewhere as “identification certainty”) has received less attention. With the publication of ISO 17025 : 1999, however, interest in uncertainties in testing operations has increased. The problems of establishing uncertainty associated with qualitative tests, such as ‘pass/fail’, identity and comparative identity tests have accordingly become more important. This paper sets out some of the main issues arising for analysts in testing laboratories and accreditation bodies interested in the assessment of uncertainty in qualitative testing. While it does not provide detailed statistical methods for the characterisation of uncertainties in qualitative testing, it does provide general guidance on the main issues.
This document has been published in the Springer journal "Accreditation and Quality Assurance", Accred Qual Assur 5 (2000) 8, 346-348. It is available from the journal's website.The journal's website: http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/00769/index.htm (click to open this website in a new browser window)
Document location: http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/00769/papers/0005008/00050346.pdf (47 kB) (click to open this document in a new browser window).