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Last Updated: 05-02-2019 12:47
Within the framework of the HBM4EU project, an Inter-Laboratory Comparison Investigation (ICI) was organized and conducted for the analysis of cadmium in blood. The study was performed from April 2018 to May 2018. Nine different test samples consisting of 3 mL blood each (6 of them spiked with two different concentrations of cadmium (Cdlow, Cdhigh), 3 of them containing native control material (Cdnative) were prepared and sent to the participating laboratories for analysis. Homogeneity and stability assessment of the control materials confirmed that the materials were adequately homogeneous and stable. Laboratory results were rated using z-scores in accordance with ISO 13528 and ISO 17043. The standard deviation for proficiency assessment (also called target standard deviation) was set to FFP = 25 %. In total, 19 laboratories from 16 countries participated in the ICI. The participation in the ICI was satisfactory; 19 out of 19 laboratories submitted their results. The evaluation showed that 84 % of the results were satisfactory, none were questionable and 11 % were unsatisfactory. For one laboratory (5 %) no Z-score could be calculated (false negatives, the limit of quantification was too high).