Accuracy and measurement

uncertainty
Section 7
 Performance Quantitative
Types of errors
characteristics expression of
performance
characteristics

Systematic error Trueness Bias

(total) Measurement
Error Accuracy uncertainty

Random
error Precision Standard deviation
repeatability/reproducibility
A. Menditto, et al Accred. Qual. Assur. 2006, 12, 45 (e.g. Intermediate precision)
Trueness
Systematic effect
Random effect
Precision
How does measurement uncertainty fit to
this picture?
 Which method is more accurate?

If uncertainy is acceptable to Method is not accurate enough

the customer then method is and the uncertainty estimation
OK. should be reviewed.
Which method is more accurate?

Less accurate More accurate

Uncertainty estimation approaches
Based on Based on
modelling validation data
Uncertainty data of Intermediate precision
many parameters and long-term bias
are used data are used
Rigorous but Less rigorous but
work-intensive and easy to apply in a
needs competence routine lab
Using validation data for uncertainty
Effects contributing to
uncertainty

Random Systematic

uc  u1  u2
2 2

Uncertainty from long- Uncertainty accounting

term random effects for long-term bias
There is a Dedicated MOOC for
measurement uncertainty:

Estimation of measurement
uncertainty in chemical analysis

https://sisu.ut.ee/measurement/