How do you compare and benchmark your GC-MS calibration performance with other labs or standards?

2 Calibration curve

An important part of GC-MS calibration performance is the calibration curve, which plots the instrument response versus the concentration of the standard. To compare and benchmark your calibration curve with other labs or standards, you should consider parameters such as the number and range of calibration points, the linearity and fit of the curve, and the accuracy and precision of the curve. At least five calibration points should be used to cover the expected concentration range of samples, with a linear or non-linear regression method to describe the relationship between instrument response and concentration. Statistical tests such as t-test or F-test can be used to determine if there is a significant difference between your calibration curve and others. Additionally, you can evaluate accuracy and precision by calculating relative error or percent recovery, as well as relative standard deviation or coefficient of variation for each calibration point. Extrapolating beyond the calibration range should be avoided to prevent errors and uncertainty.

3 Calibration validation

The final step to compare and benchmark your GC-MS calibration performance with other labs or standards is to validate your calibration. Validation is the process of confirming that your calibration is suitable for its intended purpose and meets the quality criteria. To validate your calibration, you should perform sensitivity, linearity, accuracy, and precision tests. For example, you can measure the lowest concentration of the standard that can be detected and quantified by your instrument with a given confidence level, as well as compare your linearity with the dynamic range or the linear range reported by other labs or standards for the same or similar analytes and methods. Furthermore, you can measure how close your measured concentrations are to the true concentrations of the standard or a certified reference material (CRM), as well as how consistent your measured concentrations are for repeated measurements of the same standard or sample. Proficiency testing (PT) or interlaboratory comparison (ILC) programs can also be used to compare and benchmark your GC-MS calibration performance with other labs or standards. These programs involve sending a blind sample to multiple labs and comparing their results with a reference value or a consensus value. In this way, you can identify any problems or sources of error in your calibration and improve your quality assurance and quality control.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?