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Term / NORMAN Definition
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Source/field
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A
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Top
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Accepted reference value
A value that serves as an agreed-upon reference for comparison, and which is derived as:
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a theoretical or established value, based on scientific principles;
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an assigned or certified value, based on experimental work of some national or international organisation
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a consensus or certified value, based on collaborative experimental work under the auspices of a scientific or engineering group
when a), b) and c) are not available, the expectation of the (measurable) quantity,
i.e. the mean or the median of a specified population of measurements
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ISO 3534-1
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Accreditation (of laboratories)
Procedure where an independant authority body acknowledges
that an organisation or a person is competent to carry out specified tasks.
Accreditation relies on criteria or procedures to assess the technical competencies.
Accreditation acknowledges the conformity of the quality system as well
as the competencies of the staff.
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COFRAC (French committee of accreditation)
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Accuracy
The closeness of agreement between a test result and the accepted reference value.
NOTE: The term accuracy, when applied to a set of test results, involves a combination
of random components and a common systematic error or bias component.
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ISO 3534-1
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Adaptation
Deliberate modification of a test method with the aim to extend its scope or applicability,
e.g. to make it applicable for a new matrix or organism
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Analyte
The substance subject to analysis
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Norman project
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Analytical method
Any fully documented and validated method describing procedures that enable the amount
or concentration of a parameter to be determined to a stated uncertainty
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D. Westwood
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Analytical run
To be defined (sub project validation)
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Applicability
To be defined (sub project validation)
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B
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Top
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Bias
The difference between the expectation of the test results and an accepted reference value.
NOTE: Bias is the total systematic error as contrasted to random error.
There may be one or more systematic error components contributing to the bias.
A larger systematic difference from the accepted reference value is reflected by a larger bias value
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ISO 3534-1
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Biomarker
A change in biological response, ranging from molecular through cellular and physiological responses
to behavioural changes, which can be related to exposure to or toxic effects of environmental chemicals
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Peakall 1994
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Blank
To be defined (sub project validation)
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C
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Top
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Calibration
Operation establishing the relation between quantity values provided by measurement standards
and the corresponding indications of a measuring system, carried out under specified conditions
and including evaluation of measurement uncertainty.
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VIM (2)
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Calibration laboratory
A laboratory producing standards of known composition and uncertainty which are then used
by other laboratories for calibration purposes
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D. Westwood
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Certification
Third party, independent process confirming compliance to specified requirements
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D. Westwood
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Certified Reference Material
Reference material, accompanied by a certificate, one or more whose property values
are certified by a procedure, which establishes its traceability to an accurate realisation
of the unit in which the property values are expressed, and for which each certified value
is accompanied by an uncertainty at a stated level of confidence
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ISO/IEC Guide 30 – 1992
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European Topic Centre
Institutions/organisations contracted by the EEA to execute tasks identified
in the multiannual work programme. They are designated by the management board
after a competitive expertise/capacity selection process.
Guiding principles for selection should be the cost-efficient use of existing
and potential capacities in the member countries and avoidance of duplication
of work and capacities.
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EEA (1)
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Community Reference Laboratory (CRL)
Community Reference Laboratories" (CRLs) with scientific and technical expertise within the areas
of animal health, public health and zootechnics have been designated in different Community Decisions,
Directives and Regulations. Within the framework of Council Decision N° 90/424/EEC on expenditure
in the veterinary field of 26 June 1990, these laboratories may receive a Community financial aid
for fulfilling tasks and functions specified in legislation.
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Food area (6)
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Comparability
Property of measurement results enabling them to be compared because they are metrologically
traceable to the same stated metrological reference
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VIM (2)
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Contact Point
Expert from leading institutes / organisations / research centres to be identified
in the different European countries in order to collaborate with the NORMAN network for:
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the exchange of information about research initiatives, monitoring programmes and analytical needs for emerging environmental pollutants
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the dissemination of information in their own countries regarding NORMAN activities.
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NORMAN project
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Contaminant
Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter
that has an adverse effect on air, water, or soil.
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EPA
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Control Chart
To be defined (sub project validation)
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Criteria
General definition: a descriptive factor / a measure
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Literature
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Criteria of accreditation
Internationally recognised requirements as described in ISO 17025
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D. Westwood
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Criteria for Contact Points
A Contact Point should meet the following criteria:
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Recognised experience in the field of emerging substances demonstrated
via scientific publications or a related national / international institutional role;
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Expertise in at least one of the following sectors of activity:
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research on emerging substances (chemical analyses and/or bio-monitoring using bio-assays and biomarkers, etc.)
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risk assessment
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monitoring of emerging pollutants
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participation in national / international projects / work programmes dealing with emerging substances.
A Contact Point should be committed to carry out the following tasks:
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Support the NORMAN network in creating links to the key research centres,
reference laboratories, institutions, etc. and providing first-contact information
about the on-going research activities, projects, monitoring programmes
and other initiatives relating to emerging substances
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Help to disseminate information about NORMAN reports, workshops and activities
to relevant institutions / organisations.
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Norman project
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Criteria for analytical laboratory
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Demonstration by the lab of the performance of a method in the concentration range of interest
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Limit of quantification (1/5 of the concentration level of interest)
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Regular blank control and spiking experiments or analysis of control sample
(if available certified reference material)
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Successful participation of inter-laboratory studies (relevant matrixes)
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Accreditation (ISO 17025) to ensure the application of analytical quality assurance
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Commission directive 2002/69/EC (food)
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Criteria for expert laboratory
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Activities in the policy area:
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Participation in European Working Groups (policy development and implementation)
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Activities in the standardisation area:
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Participation in CEN, ISO working groups/ technical committees
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Participation in accreditation and/or certification working groups
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Activities in the research area:
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Publications (number and citation by other publications, participation in national /
international research projects, participation and communication in internationally
recognised congress (posters, presentations…)
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Activities in the public domain:
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Technical support to public authorities
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BRGM
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Criteria for research laboratory
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Activities in the research area
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Publications (number and citation by other publications, participation in national /
international research projects, participation and communication in internationally
recognised congress (posters, presentations…)
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Publications (prime journals), participation in national / international research projects.
Number of citations by other publications.
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Activities in the public domain:
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Technical support to public authorities
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BRGM / UKEA
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Criteria for national reference laboratory
Competencies:
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capable of interacting with research labs
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capable of interacting with organisations and institutional bodies in charge of QA/QC systems
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capable of interacting with standardisation bodies
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capable of interacting with routine analysis laboratories.
Missions:
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developing, validating and testing methods and protocols dealing with sampling, transport, storage, preparation of samples, in situ measurements and laboratory analyses (with particular emphasis on the validation of chemical and biological methods necessary for obtaining reliable and comparable data for the determination of emerging substances)
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providing technical support to the laboratories for the implementation of these methods (in terms of QA/QC procedures) via the development of books /guidelines / manuals, and / or the organisation of national working groups
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providing technical support to competent authorities for the definition of the performance targets to be achieved by the monitoring labs which are authorised to apply these methods (and the evidence to be provided for the demonstration of the achievement of these targets)
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auditing of monitoring labs (at the request of the competent authorities)
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organising PT exercises for routine laboratories at national level and being a reference point for routine labs in its particular country in order to inform and encourage them to take part in inter-laboratory tests available at the national or EU level
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taking part in the activities (technical committees) of standardisation bodies, accreditation and certification bodies at national and/or European / international level
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running a scientific and technological watch (observatory) in order to advise authorities and anticipate research needs regarding emerging pollutants and new methods
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being involved in research programmes and ensuring, through its participation in these programmes, the transfer and added value of the research findings
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BRGM (Norman project)
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D
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Top
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Development
In this guide, development is used in the meaning of extending the applicability of a method, e.g. to a new matrix,
compound or organism.
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E
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Top
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Emerging pollutants
A substance currently not included in routine environmental monitoring programmes
and which may be candidate for future legislation due to its adverse effects
and / or persistency.
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Norman project
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Emerging substance
A substance that has been detected in the environment, but which is currently
not included in routine monitoring programmes and whose fate, behaviour
and (eco)toxicological effects are not well understood
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Norman project
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Expert laboratory
Laboratory judged by one’s peers and recognised as expert on a specific area, field or theme.
Besides activities in the research area, it may be involved in activities related to policy development
and / or implementation, standardisation, certification, accreditation.
Could be academic centre, university, research institute, private or public organisation.
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BRGM
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F
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Top
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Fitness for Purpose
Degree to which data produced by a measurement process enables a user to make technically
and administratively correct decisions for a stated purpose
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IUPAC Orange Book
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National Focal Point
National Focal Points (NFPs) are appointed and funded by member countries and are in charge
of national co-operation with the EEA and national co-ordination of activities related to the EEA work programme.
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EEA (1)
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I
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Top
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Indicator (Environmental Indicator)
A concise measure of cumulative effects and ecosystem vulnerability.
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EPA
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Interference
To be defined (sub project validation)
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Intermediate precision (within-lab reproducibility)
Precision under conditions where independent test results are obtained with the same method
on identical test items in the same laboratory by different operators using different equipment on different days.
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SWIFT VG (5)
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Internal Standard
To be defined (sub project validation)
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L
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Top
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LC 50/Lethal Concentration
Median level concentration, a standard measure of toxicity.
It tells how much of a substance is needed to kill half of a group of experimental organisms
in a given time. (See: LD 50.)
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EPA
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LD 50/ Lethal Dose
The dose of a toxicant or microbe that will kill 50 percent of the test organisms
within a designated period. The lower the LD 50, the more toxic the compound.
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EPA
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Limit of Detection
The lowest concentration of analyte in a sample that can be detected with stated level of confidence,
but not necessarily quantitated under the stated conditions of the test.
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NATA Tech note #13
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Limit of Quantitation (or Limit of Quantification)
The lowest concentration of an analyte that can be determined with acceptable precision
under the stated conditions of the test
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NATA Tech note #13
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Linearity
The ability of the response of the method (signal, colour density…)
to obtain test results proportional to the concentration of analyte.
NOTE: The linear range is by inference the range of analyte concentrations
over which the method gives test results proportional to the concentration of the analyte
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AOAC-PVMC
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Lower Limit Of Applicability
The lowest concentrations for which a method has been validated with specified accuracy
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AMPS draft final report
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M
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Top
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Matrix
To be defined (sub project validation)
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Matrix effect
To be defined (sub project validation)
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Measurand
Quantity intended to be measured
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VIM 2004
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Measurement
Process of experimentally obtaining information about the magnitude of a quantity
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VIM 2004
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Measurement Uncertainty
Parameter that characterises the dispersion of the quantity values that are being attributed
to a measurand, based on the information used.
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VIM 2004
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Metadata
Data about data, e.g. Date and location of sampling are metadata for concentration data measured at a given site
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EEA (1)
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Method, Test method
To be defined (sub project validation)
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Monitoring (under WFD)
The three modes of monitoring specified in the WFD include
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surveillance monitoring aimed at assessing long-term water quality changes and providing
baseline data on river basins allowing the design and implementation of other types of monitoring,
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operational monitoring aimed at providing additional and essential data on water bodies
at risk or failing environmental objectives of the WFD, and finally
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investigative monitoring aimed at assessing causes of such failure when they are unknown
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WFD
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Monitoring (Bio-monitoring)
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Bio-monitoring is the use of biological responses to assess changes in the environment
which are generally due to anthropogenic influences.
Organisms or sub-organisms are usually used as indicators;
they give complete information about the smallest changes in the environmental conditions
in specific environments
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Metropolis (3)
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Monitoring (Risk monitoring)
Process of following up the decisions and actions within risk management in order
to ascertain that risk containment or reduction with respect to a particular hazard is assured.
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EEA (1)
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N
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Top
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Negative Control
To be defined (sub project validation)
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O
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Top
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Optimisation
Deliberate modification of a test method with the aim to improve its performance,
e.g. with respect to lower limits of quantitation,
smaller measurement uncertainty or better selectivity
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Norman project
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Outlier
A member of a set of values which is inconsistent with the other members of that set.
NOTE: ISO 5725-2 specifies the statistical tests and the significance level to be used
to identify outliers in trueness and precision experiments
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ISO 5725-1
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P
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Top
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Pollutant
Generally, any substance introduced into the environment that adversely
affects the usefulness of a resource or the health of humans, animals, or ecosystems.
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EPA
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Positive Control
To be defined (sub project validation)
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Precision
The closeness of agreement between independent test results obtained under stipulated conditions.
NOTES:
Precision depends only on the distribution of random errors and does not relate to the true value
or the specified value. The measure of precision is usually expressed in terms of imprecision
and computed as a standard deviation of the test results.
Less precision is reflected by a larger standard deviation.
"independent test results"
means results obtained in a manner not influenced by any previous result on the same
or similar test object.
Quantitative measures of precision depend critically on the stipulated conditions.
Repeatability and reproducibility conditions are particular sets of extreme conditions.
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ISO 3534-1
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Proficiency Testing
A periodic assessment of the performance of individual laboratories and groups of laboratories
that is achieved by the distribution by an independent testing body of typical materials
for unsupervised analysis by the participants
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IUPAC Orange Book
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Primary procedure
Measurement procedure used to realise the definition of a measurement unit
and obtain the quantity value and measurement uncertainty of a primary measurement standard.
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VIM (2)
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Q
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Top
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Quality Assurance
Planned activities designed to ensure that the quality control activities are being properly implemented.
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AOAC (4)
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Quality control
A planned system of activities designed to provide a quality product.
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AOAC (4)
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Quantity
Property of a phenomenon, body, or substance, to which a magnitude can be assigned
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VIM 2004
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Quantity values
Magnitude of a quantity represented by a number and a reference
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VIM 2004
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R
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Top
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Range
The difference between the largest and the smallest observed value of a quantitative characteristic
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ISO 3534-1
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Recovery
If a known amount of analyte is added to a test sample and the test sample is then analysed
for that analyte by a particular method, the recovery is that fraction of the amount of analyte
added which is found by the method
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SWIFT VG (5)
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National Reference centre
National reference centres (NRCs) are not mentioned in the regulation, but have been defined subsequently
as a special set of main component elements . National reference centres are therefore also nationally
funded institutions/organisations which may be nominated by member countries to play a role
in technical co-ordination within their countries and cooperate with the European topic
centre established to cover various topics.
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EEA (1)
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National Reference laboratories
Nationally-funded institutes/ organisations, designated by the competent authorities
to offer technical and scientific support in specific fields.
The designation and the organisation of their missions may vary from one country to another
in the EU (certain countries have permanently designated one or more NRLs,
other competent authorities have chosen to select NRLs from their current operating "contractors").
As a common denominator their role and tasks include:
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being directly involved in research programmes
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provide technical support to public bodies as regards the implementation of national and EU legislation by:
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Implementing a quality system in the laboratory
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Improving measurement systems (instruments, laboratories, networks)
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Ensuring the traceability of the measurements at national level,
by providing/certifying reference materials to networks, organising PT schemes, etc.
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Participating in EU QA/QC programmes
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Exchanging information through the organisation of training sessions, workshops and conferences.
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INERIS / BRGM
(Norman project)
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Reference Material
Material or substance one or more of whose property values are sufficiently homogeneous
and well established to be used for the calibration of an apparatus,
the assessment of a measurement method, or for assigning values to materials
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ISO/IEC Guide 30
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Repeatability
Precision under repeatability conditions, i.e. conditions where independent test results are obtained
with the same method on identical test items in the same laboratory by the same operator
using the same equipment within short intervals of time
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ISO 3534-1
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Research laboratory
Laboratory judged by one’s peers and recognised as expert on a specific area, field or theme.
Could be academic centre, university, research institute, private or public organisation.
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BRGM
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Reproducibility
Precision under reproducibility conditions, i.e. conditions where test results are obtained
with the same method on identical test items in different laboratories with different operators
using different equipment.
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ISO 3534-1
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Residual
Difference between the observed response and that predicted by a calibration function.
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SWIFT VG (5)
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Robustness
The robustness of an analytical procedure is a measure of its capacity to remain unaffected by small,
but deliberate variations in method parameters and provides an indication
of its reliability during normal usage
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ICH Q2A
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Routine analysis laboratory
"Any laboratory undertaking analysis of a parameter, whether as part of a legislative need or requirement,
or not as the case may be, and where the result is generated using a fully validated and documented method
with established performance characteristics such as precision and bias produced within that laboratory".
This definition, whist broad in its approach, enables a wide range of laboratories to be included
in the proposed network.
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D. Westwood
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S
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Top
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Sample
The totality of a homogeneous analysis material having an identical composition or quality (similar to term batch)
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ISO CD 20612
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Sample — Field Sample
For example, the bulk of water collected from the river
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SWIFT VG (5)
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Sample — Laboratory Sample
Primary sample material delivered to the laboratory
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SWIFT VG (5)
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Sample — Subsample
A defined portion of a sample obtained by suitable sample division and identical in terms of composition
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ISO CD 20612
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Sample — Test sample
The aliquot of the laboratory sample taken for processing into a test portion
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SWIFT VG (5)
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Sample — Test portion
The portion of the laboratory sample taken for analysis or testing
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SWIFT VG (5)
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Sample handling
The manipulation to which samples are exposed during the measurement process, from the selection from the original material through to the disposal of all samples
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SWIFT VG (5)
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Sample preparation
The procedures followed to select the test portion from the sample (or sub-sample).
These include in-laboratory processes such as: homogenisation, mixing, and filtering.
It often includes chemical operations such as: extraction, separation, derivatisation, and concentration
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SWIFT VG (5)
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Selectivity
The ability of a method to determine accurately and specifically the analyte of interest
in the presence of other components in a sample matrix under the stated conditions of the test
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SWIFT VG (5)
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Sensitivity
The change in the response of a measurand divided by the corresponding change in the stimulus
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AOAC-PVMC
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Specificity
The ability of a method to measure only what it is intended to measure
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AOAC-PVMC
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Stability
Ability of a measuring system to maintain its metrological characteristics constant with time
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VIM (2)
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Standard
Realisation of the definition of a given quantity, with stated value and measurement uncertainty, used as a reference.
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VIM (2)
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T
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Top
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Test laboratory
See routine analysis laboratory
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BRGM
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Toxicity
The degree to which a substance or mixture of substances can harm humans or animals.
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EPA
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Acute toxicity
The ability of a substance to cause severe biological harm or death soon after a single exposure or dose.
Also, any poisonous effect resulting from a single short-term exposure to a toxic substance.
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EPA
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Chronic toxicity
The ability of a substance or mixture of substances to cause harmful effects over an extended period,
usually upon repeated or continuous exposure sometimes lasting for the entire life of the exposed organism.
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EPA
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Sub-chronic toxicity
The ability of the substance to cause effects for more than one year but less than the lifetime
of the exposed organism.
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EPA
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Toxicity test
Determination of the effect of a substance on a group of selected organisms under defined conditions
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As & Van Lewes (1995)
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Tracability
Property of the result of a measurement or the value of a standard whereby it can be related
with a stated uncertainty, to stated references, usually national or international standards
(i.e. through an unbroken chain of comparisons all having stated uncertainties)
NOTE: The standards referred to here are measurement standards rather than written standards
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ISO/IEC Guide 30 – 1992
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Trueness
The closeness of agreement between the average value obtained from a large series
of test results and an accepted reference value.
NOTE: The measure of trueness is usually expressed in terms of bias.
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ISO 3534-1
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U
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Top
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Uncertainty of measurement
See Measurement uncertainty
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V
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Top
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Validation
Confirmation through examination of a given item and provision of objective evidence
that it fulfils the requirements for a stated intended use.
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VIM (2)
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W
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Top
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Working range
The interval between the upper and lower concentration (amounts) of analyte in the sample
for which it has been demonstrated that the analytical procedure has a suitable level of uncertainty.
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SWIFT VG (5)
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