- absolute recovery
means the yield of the final stage of an analytical process for an analyte divided by the amount of the analyte in the original sample, expressed as a percentage;
- accuracy
means the closeness of agreement between a test result and the accepted true reference value, determined by estimating trueness and precision;
- alpha (α) error
means the probability that the tested sample is compliant, even though a non-compliant measurement result has been obtained;
- analyte
means the component of a system to be analysed;
- authorised substance
means a pharmacologically active substance authorised for use in food-producing animals in accordance with Directive 2001/82/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council;
- beta (β) error
means the probability that the tested sample is truly non-compliant, even though a compliant measurement result has been obtained;
- bias
means the difference between the estimated value of the test result and an accepted reference value;
- calibration standard
means a traceable reference for measurements that represents the quantity of substance of interest in a way that ties its value to a reference base;
- certified reference material
(CRM) means a reference material, accompanied by documentation issued by a delegated body and providing one or more specified property values with associated uncertainties and traceabilities, using valid procedures;
- co-chromatography
means a technique in which an unknown substance is applied to a chromatographic support together with one or more known compounds, in the expectation that the relative behaviour of the unknown and known substances will assist in the identification of the unknown one;
- collaborative study
means analysing the same sample(s) by using the same method to determine performance characteristics of the method in different laboratories, where the study allows to calculate the random measurement error and laboratory bias for the method used;
- confirmatory method
means a method that provides full or complementary information enabling the substance to be unequivocally identified and if necessary quantified in one of the following manners:
- coverage factor (k)
means a number which expresses the desired level of confidence and which is associated with the expanded measurement uncertainty;
- decision limit for confirmation (CCα)
means the limit at and above which it can be concluded with an error probability of α that a sample is non-compliant and the value 1 – α means statistical certainty in percentage that the permitted limit has been exceeded;
- detection capability for screening (CCβ)
means the smallest content of the analyte that may be detected or quantified in a sample with an error probability of β:
- fortified sample material
means a sample enriched with a known amount of the analyte to be detected or quantified;
- in-house validation
means an analytical study involving a single laboratory using one method to analyse the same or different test materials under different conditions over justified long time intervals;
- inter-laboratory study
means the organisation, performance and evaluation of tests on the same sample(s) by two or more laboratories in accordance with predetermined conditions to evaluate testing performance, either as a collaborative study or a proficiency test;
- intermediate precision/in-house reproducibility
means measurement precision under a set of within-laboratory conditions in a specific laboratory.
- internal standard (IS)
means a substance not contained in the sample and having physico-chemical properties as similar as possible to those of the analyte to be identified or quantified;
- level of interest
means the concentration of a substance or analyte in a sample that is significant to determine its compliance with the legislation as regards:
- lowest calibrated level
(LCL) means the lowest concentration on which the measuring system has been calibrated;
- matrix
means the material from which a sample is taken;
- matrix effect
means the difference in analytical response between a standard dissolved in the solvent and a matrix-matched standard either without a correction using an internal standard or with correction using an internal standard;
- matrix-fortified standard
means a blank (i.e. analyte-free) matrix, which prior to solvent extraction and sample processing, is spiked with the analyte at a range of concentrations;
- matrix-matched standard
means a blank (i.e. analyte-free) matrix to which the analyte is added at a range of concentrations after sample processing;
- measurand
means the particular quantity subject to measurement;
- measurement uncertainty
means a non-negative parameter associated with the result of measurement, which characterises the dispersion of values that could reasonably be attributed to the measurand, based on the information used;
- MRL
refers to the ‘0,5 times cascade MRL, with the target 0,1 times cascade MRL, where reasonably feasible’.
- performance criteria
means requirements for a performance characteristic according to which it can be judged that the analytical method is fit for the intended use and generates reliable results;
- precision
means the closeness of agreement between independent test results obtained under stipulated conditions and is expressed as the standard deviation or coefficient of variation of the test results;
- qualitative method
means an analytical method, which detects or identifies a substance or a group of substances on the basis of its chemical, biological or physical properties;
- quantitative method
means an analytical method, which determines the amount or mass fraction of a substance so that it may be expressed as a numerical value of appropriate units;
- recovery
means the recovery corrected amount of an analyte divided by the fortified amount of the analyte in the matrix sample, expressed as a percentage;
- recovery correction
means the use of internal standards, the use of a matrix calibration curve as well as the use of a recovery correction factor and also a combination of these approaches;
- reference material
means a material sufficiently homogeneous and stable with respect to one or more specified properties, which has been established to be fit for its intended use in a measurement process or in examination of nominal properties;
- relative matrix effect
means the difference in analytical response between a standard dissolved in the solvent and a matrix-matched standard with a correction using an internal standard;
- repeatability
means precision under conditions, where independent test results are obtained with the same method on identical test items in the same laboratory by the same operator using the same equipment within short intervals of time;
- reproducibility
means precision under conditions, where test results are obtained with the same method on identical test items in different laboratories with different operators using different equipment;
- ruggedness
means the susceptibility of an analytical method to changes in experimental conditions under which the method can be applied as presented or with specified minor modifications;
- screening method
means a method that is used for screening of a substance or class of substances at the level of interest;
- screening target concentration
(STC) means the concentration lower than or equal to the CCβ at which a screening measurement categorises the sample as potentially non-compliant ‘Screen Positive’ and triggers a confirmatory testing;
- selectivity
means the ability of a method to distinguish between the analyte being measured and other substances;
- standard addition
means a procedure in which one part of the sample is analysed as such and known amounts of the standard analyte are added to the other test portions before analysis;
- standard analyte
means an analyte of known and certified content and purity to be used as a reference in the analysis;
- substance
means matter of constant composition characterised by the entities which compose it and by certain physical properties;
- test portion
means the quantity of material drawn from the sample on which the test or observation is carried out;
- trueness
means the closeness of agreement between the average value obtained from a large series of test results and an accepted reference value;
- units
means those units described in ISO 80000-1:2022 and Council Directive 80/181/EEC;
- validation
means the demonstration by examination and the provision of effective evidence that the particular requirements of a specific intended use are fulfilled, through a single laboratory study or a collaborative study;