Respecting the traceability requirements, the reference measurements have the aim of reducing variability among methods in order to:
Metrological traceability is the property of a measurement result which may be related to a reference by means of an uninterrupted chain of documented calibrations.
The traceability of values of RMs, calibrations and materials of control must be ensured by means of the available traceability reference, measurement procedures and/or traceability references of a higher order.
The principles for establishing metrological traceability are defined in ISO 15195 “Requirements for reference measurement laboratories – diagnostic medical devices – measurements of quantities in biological samples, metrological traceability of calibrated values and control materials”.
The components include RMs (calibrators) and measurement procedures, both of which exist at different levels.
Reference measurements in laboratory medicine are provided by laboratories accredited according to the ISO 17025 and ISO 15195, on the requirements for reference measurement laboratories which, in the laboratory medicine sector, provide the metrological traceability. These standards do not apply to clinical laboratories that perform daily grind measurements.