ABSTRACT

The activity of the Codex Alimentarius Commission FAO/WHO concerning the qualityassurance in laboratory was discussed. Major documents issued by the joint effords of theinternational organizations (IUPAC, ISO, AOAC Int.) and Codex Alimentarius FAO/WHOCommittee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) are also presented in the article.The basic task of the CCMAS is revewing and harmonization of the international documentsin order to make them available for food analytical laboratories and to recommmend theintenationally recognised approaches for:
— collaborative studies - Protocol for Design, Conduct and Interpretation of Method-peiformance Studies. Pure & Appl. Chem. 1995, vol. 67, 332-343
— proficiency testing - The International Harmonized Protocol for the Proficiency Testing (Chemical) Analytical Laboratories. Pure & Appl. Chem. 1993, Vol. 65, 2123-2144 and J.AOAC Int. 1993, Vol. 76, 926-940
— internal quality control (IQC) - Harmonized Guidelines for Internal Quality Control in the Analytical Chemistry Laboratories. Pure & Appl. Chem. 1995, Vol. 67, 650-666
— determining and use of recovery factor - Harmonized Protocol for Recovery Factor in Analytical Measurements - document CX/MAS 97/6
— applicability of the measurement uncertainty - Measurement Uncertainly – document CX/MAS 97/7