Metrology and analysis in laboratory medicine: a criticism from the workbench

Metrological concepts and terminology, in particular the Vocabulaire International des Termes Fondamentaux et Généraux de Métrologie and the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement, are discussed from the viewpoint of analytical practice. Especially addressed are terms such as error, uncertainty, accuracy, trueness, bias, and precision. Evidence is presented that the new definition of accuracy, being now a joint index of systematic and random errors, is extremely impractical and has no advantages over the old definition of accuracy. Therefore, instead of re-education of analysts, a return to the old definition is proposed. Further, arguments are presented that the error concept is still an extremely useful metrological concept and does not need to be replaced by the uncertainty concept. Rather, both concepts are complementary.