A metrological background for the selection and use of proficiency testing (PT) schemes for a limited number N of laboratories-participants (less than 20-30) is discussed. The following basic scenarios are taken into account: (1) adequate matrix certified reference materials (CRM) or in-house reference materials (IHRM) with traceable property values are available for PT use as test items; (2) no appropriate matrix CRM is available, but a CRM or IHRM with traceable property values can be applied as a spike or similar; (3) only an IHRM with limited traceability is available. The discussion also considers the effect of a limited population of PT participants N p on statistical assessment of the PT results for a given sample of N responses from this population. When N p is finite and the sample fraction N/N p is not negligible, a correction to the statistical parameters may be necessary. Scores suitable for laboratory performance assessment in such PT schemes are compared. © 2007 Springer-Verlag.
CITATION STYLE
Belli, M., Ellison, S. L. R., Fajgelj, A., Kuselman, I., Sansone, U., & Wegscheider, W. (2007). Implementation of proficiency testing schemes for a limited number of participants. In Accreditation and Quality Assurance (Vol. 12, pp. 391–398). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-006-0247-0
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