Evaluation of Analytical Chemical Methods for Detection of Estrogens in the Environment

Parameter Meaning Determination Accuracy Is the closeness of the measured result to the true value Is usually determined by using reference material of well defined concentration Precision Is the closeness of the agreement among repeated measurements Is determined as the standard deviation between repeated measurements Reproducibility Is the closeness of the agreement between measurements when repeated under changed macroscopic conditions (e.g. different instruments) Is determined as the standard deviation between repeated measurements Selectivity Is the extent to which the analyte may be determined without interference from other components. Is determined by measuring the analyte concentration in presence of other compounds Robustness Is the sensitivity of the method towards external influences Usually not determined in formal ways Limits of detection Is the lowest concentration the analyte can be detected See comments in text Limits of quantification Is the lowest concentration the analyte can be quantified See comments in text Measuring range Is the concentration range where the analyte can be quantified with acceptable accuracy and precision Is concentration where it is documented that accuracy and precision is satisfactory Sensitivity Is the smallest detectable difference in analyte concentration Determined from the slope of a linear regression line