Lab and analysis
Certified reference material (CRM)
Definition
A reference material with a certified value and uncertainty, traceable to a stated reference, used to calibrate and validate methods.
CRMs are produced by reference material producers, ideally accredited to ISO 17034, and come with a certificate stating the property value, its uncertainty and its traceability. Pharmacopoeias publish their own primary reference standards for monograph tests.
Using proper reference materials is what makes assay results from different labs comparable.