EC initiatives for quality assurance training in analytical chemistry

Quality in the analytical laboratory is essential nowadays, must prove to meet the needs of customers, attract their confidence (and that of others who make use of the results), and represent value for money. There are innumerable areas where the results of chemical analysis are important (e.g., in the determination of the quality of manufactured products, in support of health and safety, in establishing environmental legislation, and in forensic science). However, although the concept of quality control and quality assurance is well understood by modern laboratories (whether commercial or with national responsibilities) –which are often accredited in various analytical sectors – there is an enormous gap in the transfer of knowledge to smaller laboratories. Training actions are therefore urgently needed, especially for analysts working in routine laboratories. This article describes two initiatives carried out under the umbrella of the EC Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme.