Certified reference materials of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) develops certified reference materials for clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine, analysis of environmental and food samples and industrial quality control. A broad range of materials, ranging from markers of Alzheimer’s disease in cerebrospinal fluid to polybrominated biphenyl ethers in fish and sediment, from pesticides in vegetables and grain to heavy metals in environmental samples or metals/alloys, is available.

The CRMs represent routine samples as much as possible. The certificates specify traceability and uncertainties of the certified values and distinguish clearly between non-certified and certified values, as only the latter can be used for calibration and check of method trueness. A detailed certification report that describes material processing, homogeneity and stability assessment and the characterisation studies and value assignment is available for each CRM. All CRMs are produced in line with a quality system accredited to ISO 17034.