ABSTRACT
Good laboratory practice .........................................................................................38 Error in laboratory measurement ............................................................................41 Instrument calibration and quantification................................................................45 Linear least squares regression................................................................................58 Uncertainty in interpolated linear least squares regression ....................................64 Instrument detection limits ......................................................................................68 Limit of quantitation................................................................................................81 Quality control .........................................................................................................85 Linear vs. nonlinear least squares regression .........................................................91 Electronic interfaces between instruments and PCs .............................................104 Sampling considerations........................................................................................112 References..............................................................................................................117
Chromatographic and spectroscopic analytical instrumentation are the key determinative tools to quantitate the presence of chemical contaminants in biological fluids and in the environment. These instruments generate electrical signals that are related to the amount or concentration of an analyte of environmental or environmental health significance. This analyte is likely to be found in a sample matrix taken from the environment, or from body fluids. Typical sample matrices drawn from the environment include groundwater, surface water, air, soil, wastewater, sediment, sludge, and so forth. Computer technology has merely aided the conversion of an
