2002, Number 4
Bioquimia 2002; 27 (4)
Metrology
Guide for estimation of uncertainty measurement in clinical laboratory sciences
Fuentes AX, Sánchez MM
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 12
Page: 112-120
PDF size: 139.88 Kb.
ABSTRACT
When measuring a quantity random and systematic errors can act together on the result producing an error of measurement (formerly called "total error") and generating a doubt — uncertainty— about the true value of the measured quantity. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines uncertainty of measurement as a parameter, associated with the result of a measurement, that characterizes the dispersion of the values that could reasonably be attributed to the measurand (measured quantity). In other words, uncertainty is a numerical information that complements a result of measurement, indicating the magnitude of the doubt about this result.The international scientific and standardization bodies recommend that the uncertainty of patients' results obtained in clinical laboratories should be known. By this reason, this article try to clarify the concept of uncertainty of measurement and to show the different approaches to estimate this parameter.
REFERENCES
International Bureau of Weights and Measures, InternationalElectrotechnical Commission, International Organization forStandardization, International Organization of Legal Metrology,International Federation of Clinical Chemistry, International Union ofPure and Applied Chemistry and International Union of Pure andApplied Physics. International Vocabulary of Basic and General Termsin Metrology. ISO: Geneva, 1993.