Purchasing Guide: Certified Reference Materials
CRMs offer the highest level of accuracy over uncertified reference materials and can be used in the lab as controls
Certified reference materials (CRMs) are reference standards with known, validated properties used in calibration, assessing the accuracy of analytical instruments, confirming metrological traceability, and other quality assurance processes. CRMs offer the highest level of accuracy over uncertified reference materials and can be used in the lab as controls. For a list of CRM providers, see our online directory: labmanager.com/certified-reference-materials
5 Questions to Ask When Buying a CRM:
- What level of accuracy does my application require? Basic differentiation or in-depth characterization?
- Will a non-certified reference material suffice for my purpose?
- Will my lab be reporting results to external customers? If so, a CRM may be required as results must be metrologically traceable.
- Does my CRM supplier have an ISO 17034 accreditation?
- How many different CRMs does my lab need?
Buying from a Producer vs a Reseller
Is your supplier a CRM producer or a contracted reseller? If a reseller, ISO 17034 requirements no longer apply, resulting in lost metrological traceability. For this reason, you may want to confirm that your supplier still abides by ISO 17034 and maintains metrological traceability. If it doesn’t, consider switching to a sample producer.
Ask the Expert: Why CRMs are Important
This Ask the Expert article covers common questions about CRMs, their role in spectrometry, and how to find a supplier. You can read the full Q&A at labmanager.com/ask-the-expert-CRMs