Limits of determination and calibration in HPLC

Summary In HPLC calibration the expressions lowest calibration limit and determination limit are defined in statistical terms. The lowest calibration limit is the minimum mass in the measured series of calibration points. It is calculated from the confidence interval of the inverse of the calibration function as the lowest mass limit that may be differentiated from zero mass with a preset probability of error. If the calculated lowest calibration limit is lower than the actual data, points at lower concentration may be measured. The determination limit is the smallest concentration of an analysis that is differentiated from the concentration zero or an apparent blind value in the calibration curve with a given probability of error.Using two different UV-detectors (variable wavelength and photodiode-array) the lowest calibration limit is experimentally evaluated and compared with specific data for the detectors.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. E. Bayer, Tübingen on ocassion of his 60th birthday.