Comparability of analytical results obtained in proficiency testing based on a metrological approach

A “yes–no” type of criterion is proposed for the assessment of comparability of proficiency testing (PT) results when the PT scheme is based on a metrological approach, i.e. on the use of a reference material as the test sample, etc. The criterion tests a null hypothesis concerning the insignificance of a bias of the mean of the results from a traceable value certified in the reference material used for the PT. Reliability of such assessment is determined by the probabilities of not rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true, and rejecting it when it is false (the alternative hypothesis is true). It is shown that a number of chemical, metrological and statistical reasons should be taken into account for careful formulation of the hypotheses, enabling the avoidance of an erroneous assessment of the comparability. The criterion can be helpful for PT providers and laboratory accreditation bodies in analysis of PT results.     

Detecting DNA Damage with a Silver Solid Amalgam Electrode

Mercury electrodes modified with supercoiled (sc) DNA have been used as highly sensitive tools for the detection of DNA strand breaks or as sensors for DNA cleaving substances. In this paper we show that silver solid amalgam electrode (AgSAE), in connection with alternating current voltammetry, provides similar information about DNA damage as the hanging mercury drop electrode. The AgSAE can be used for the detection of enzymatic or chemical DNA cleavage in solution or at the electrode surface. AgSAE modified with scDNA can be utilized as a sensor for DNA nicking substances.     

1H-CRAMPS Solid-State NMR and X-Ray Crystal Studies of Inclusion Complexes Formed from 3,3′-bis(9-Hydroxy-9-fluorenyl)-2,2′-binaphthyl Hosts with Acetone

The crystal structures of inclusion compounds of 3,3-bis(9-hydroxy-9-fluorenyl)-2,2-binaphthyl host (1) and its chloro (2) or bromo (3) derivatives substituted in 2,7-positions of the fluorene units with acetone guests (1A–3A) were determined by X-ray studies as well as by ¹H-CRAMPS solid-state NMR. Using this NMR technique allows identification of differently bound guest molecules due to their different chemical shifts caused by the influence of the ring current effects of the host aryl units.     

Dual microband electrodes: current distributions and diffusion layer ‘titrations’. Implications for electroanalytical measurements

The simulation of transport to double microband electrodes in generator–collector mode is reported focusing especially on the ‘titration curve’ approach to electroanalysis in which a titrant is electrogenerated from a redox active precursor on the generator electrode and reacts homogeneously with the target analyte. The current on the detector electrode reflects the amount of titrant ‘surviving’ passage between the two electrodes. The form of the titration curve – plots of detector current as a function of generator current – is shown to be highly sensitive to the electrode kinetics of the redox couple driven at the generator electrode. Accordingly the naïve use of such methodology for analysis without accompanying simulation and kinetic analysis is fraught with danger. Use of the conformal mapping approach in combination with the ADI method for investigation of the ‘titration’ current distributions at the double band system gives fast and precise simulation of this and similar problems. Convergence analysis is described which allows for the automatic selection of the simulation grid size so as to obtain a chosen accuracy (for example 1%) of the current for all experimentally meaningful values of the geometrical and physico-chemical parameters of the system to be investigated.     

Preparation of apolar glass capillary columns by the barium carbonate procedure

As an extension of previous reports, the barium carbonate procedure has been optimized in detail for the preparation of apolar columns. The aim was to produce optimum overall column characteristics, and to maintain them unchanged under the prolonged influence of the highest possible temperature. The main parameters under optimization were glass variety, leaching of glass surface with aqueous HCl, and amount of barium carbonate deposited, while deactivation and coating were kept constant. The basic column characteristics were adsorption properties and thermostability of deactivation, acid/base behaviour and separation efficiency. They were determined by a new, quantitative testing procedure. Intense leaching was able to eliminate almost totally the differences between glass varieties and to create a well-defined glass surface. While untreated glass, leached glass, and barium carbonate treated glass showed specific weak points in the respective column quality, the combination of leaching and barium carbonate treatment yielded the highest and most stable quality. Some technical modifications of the preparation procedure are described, including deactivation in the gas phase, and use of pentane as a solvent for static coating.     

Statistical treatment of proficiency testing data

 There are three stages to evaluating a laboratory's results in an interlaboratory proficiency test: establishing the correct result for the test item, determining an evaluation statistic for the particular result, and establishing an acceptable range. There are a wide variety of procedures for accomplishing these three stages and a correspondingly wide variety of statistical techniques in use. Currently in North America the largest number of laboratory proficiency test programs are in the clinical laboratory field, followed by programs for environmental laboratories that test drinking water and waste water. Proficiency testing in both of these fields is under the jurisdiction of the federal government and other regulatory and accreditation agencies. Many of the statistical procedures are specified in the regulations, to assure comparability of different programs and a fair evaluation of performance. In this article statistical procedures recommended in International Organization for Standardization Guide 43, Part 1, are discussed and compared with current practices in North America. Received: 22 April 1998 · Accepted: 12 May 1998     

磁性纳米标记检测技术在生物医学即时检测领域的研究进展

基于磁性纳米材料的磁标记检测技术具有灵敏度高、线性范围广、信号检测便捷等优点。由于生物样品自身磁背景信号极低,相比于光学标记检测技术,磁标记检测技术在蛋白质、核酸、细胞、病原体及生物组织检测中均表现出更高的灵敏度,在生物医学即时检测领域展现了良好的应用前景。该文围绕磁性纳米粒在即时检测领域的最新研究进展,重点介绍了其在蛋白质、核酸以及几类病原体检测方面的应用,并对基于磁性纳米粒的即时检测技术发展方向及应用前景进行了展望。     

Determination of complex formation constants by phase sensitive alternating current polarography: Cadmium-polymethacrylic acid and cadmium-polygalacturonic acid

The use of phase sensitive alternating current polarography (ACP) for the evaluation of complex formation constants of systems where electrodic adsorption is present has been proposed. The applicability of the technique implies the previous selection of the phase angle where contribution of capacitive current is minimized. This is made using Multivariate Curve Resolution by Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) in the analysis of ACP measurements at different phase angles. The method is checked by the study of the complexation of Cd by polymethacrylic (PMA) and polygalacturonic (PGA) acids, and the optimal phase angles have been ca. −10° for Cd-PMA and ca. −15° for Cd-PGA systems. The goodness of phase sensitive ACP has been demonstrated comparing the determined complex formation constants with those obtained by reverse pulse polarography, a technique that minimizes the electrode adsorption effects on the measured currents.     

三角波交流示波极谱的研究(Ⅰ)——示波极谱图的性质

用三角波电流代替正弦波电流,进行交流示波极谱滴定,所得示波极谱图与正弦波结果相似。对一些离子的滴定表明,两法所得结果均在定量分析允许误差范围以内。报道了三角波交流示波极谱图的一些性质。