What is new in certified reference materials and measurements at IRMM?

Abstract

IRMM is developing more and more isotopic spike reference materials since these are increasingly needed in trace analysis. In addition, they appear to play an increasingly important role in ensuring traceability to the SI system of isotope-specific measurements made by e.g. isotope dilution mass spectometry (IDMS). Their present availability and future development is summarised. IDMS is also applied in a definitive way to establish reference measurements for IRMM's international measurement evaluation programme (IMEP), which aims at the realisation of traceability for field laboratories. IRMM uses its advanced technology for the preparation and contamination-free handling of large quantities of biological and environmental reference materials. These facilities are used for the preparation of both BCR CRM's (orange juice, sheep milk curd, sediments, etc.) and reference materials for private customers (catalytic converter materials, apple powder, flour, animal innards, tomato powder, etc.).