Certified Reference Materials and Metrological Traceability for Mycotoxin Analysis

Abstract

In the past decade, with the signing of the joint declaration by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), the International Organisation of Legal Metrology, the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, and the International Organization for Standardization, and the issuing of new international standards such as ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 13528, metrological traceability has become more and more important for the mutual recognition of measurement results. It is found that the important factors for ensuring the accuracy of results are not only relevant to calibrants but also to the analysis procedure. This paper focuses on the analysis of key factors that affect measurement results, such as analytical methods, reference materials (RMs), and proficiency testing of mycotoxins. The Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer Programme for mycotoxins, led by the BIPM, which aims to establish a global measurement system traced to the Système International d’Unités (SI), is well illustrated. Furthermore, this paper suggests to stakeholders that great effort is needed to promote the effective use of certified RM resources that are traced to the SI and globally recognized by the International Committee for Weights and Measures to finally realize “one measurement, global recognition.”