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12. Measurands in Laboratory Medicine

Dr. Denis Grote-Koska

The Technical Committee ʺMeasurands in Laboratory Medicineʺ currently comprises four accredited laboratories that offer a total of approximately 35 different measurands. The laboratories represented in the Technical Committee also participate in the global system "Joint Committee for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM)" founded by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).

The task of the JCTLM (Opens external link in new windowhttp://www.bipm.org/jctlm) is to provide a regular listing of

·           calibration/reference materials

·           calibration/reference measurement methods

·           calibration/reference laboratories and their respective measurement quantities.

A prerequisite for the listing of services offered by calibration/reference laboratories by the JCTLM is

·           application of a calibration/reference method recognized (listed) by the JCTLM

·           accreditation as calibration laboratory according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 and DIN EN ISO 15195

·           regular participation in interlaboratory comparisons for reference/calibration laboratories

A corresponding proficiency testing system (RELA) was introduced in 2002 by the Reference Institute for Bioanalytics (Bonn) as a project of the IFCC. The results of all laboratories, as well as their identity, are published once a year on the Internet (Opens external link in new windowhttp://www.dgkl-rfb.de:81). Approximately 50 laboratories from around the world participate on a regular basis. 

The calibration/reference materials and measurement procedures recognized by the JCTLM serve as a basis for accreditation by the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS).

The assessment/evaluation of the comparison measurements within the scope of accreditation is based on the results of the RELA interlaboratory comparisons, in which the German reference/calibration laboratories as well as PTB participate on a regular basis.