A referee method for the determination of total calcium in serum

Abstract

The first referee method of analysis (a method of known accuracy) in clinical chemistry has been developed through the cooperation of scientists from the National Bureau of Standards and 8 clinical chemistry laboratories. Subject to some limitations discussed in the text, calcium in serum can be determined by the referee method to within ±2% of the 'true or absolute' value. The complete protocol, based on an atomic absorption spectrometric procedure, is described in detail.