The contribution of various analytical techniques to the certification of reference materials

Two international intercomparisons on the determination of trace elements in geological-environmental materials as well as two similar intercomparisons with biological materials provided a large amount of data elucidating the relative significance of various analytical techniques in the process of certification. The data have been investigated concerning their frequency of use, agreement of results by various techniques, percentage of outliers and general performance of the methods. Because many laboratories supplied results for both biological materials and both materials of mineral origin, the analysis of data in the form of two-sample charts has also been presented. The significance of an adequate procedure for outlier rejection for the proper assigning of certified values is emphasized and the unique role of neutron activation analysis in the certification process has been demonstrated. The use of highly reliable (definitive) methods for the verification of recommended values has been demonstrated.