Standard reference materials and data quality assurance in the biomedical analysis of trace elements

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Accurate analytical data is fundamental for bioclinical studies.
• Quality assurance is essential for validating analytical work.
• Availability of standard reference materials simplifies quality control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight key aspects of producing and utilizing biological standard materials for trace element analysis.
• To illustrate the current state and challenges in determining trace elements in human biological fluids.
• To inform the development of new biomarker standard materials.

Main Methods:

• Review of current practices in biological standard material production.
• Analysis of challenges in trace element determination in biological samples.
• Discussion of quality assurance protocols for analytical measurements.

Main Results:

• Biological standard materials are vital for ensuring accuracy and precision in bioclinical analysis.
• Significant challenges exist in the accurate determination of trace elements in human biological fluids.
• Standard materials facilitate robust quality assurance procedures.

Conclusions:

• The development and use of appropriate biological standard materials are critical for reliable bioclinical data.
• Addressing current challenges in trace element analysis will improve diagnostic accuracy.
• This work provides insights for creating novel biomarker standard materials.