Determination of the standard deviation for proficiency assessment from past participant's performances

Abstract

The "uncertainty function" introduced by Thompson et al. estimates the reproducibility standard deviation as a function of concentration or mass fraction. This model was successfully applied to data derived from three proficiency testing schemes aiming at the quantification of cadmium, lead and mercury in blood and urine. This model allows the estimation of standard deviation for the performance assessment for proficiency testing rounds. © 2012 The Author(s).