Precision in trace-element analysis begins long before the plasma ignites. Whether your lab runs ICP-OES, ICP-MS or AAS, following disciplined handling, preparation and storage procedures for standards is the single most cost-effective action you can take to reduce re-runs, improve method reproducibility and strengthen audit evidence. Graham B Jackson (GBJPL) supplies Inorganic Ventures certified reference materials to Australia, and the recommendations below draw on Inorganic Ventures’ ICP Operations Guide and technical guidance as well as practical lab experience.
Why it matters: traceability, reproducibility and cost
Certified reference materials (CRMs) from an ISO-accredited producer give you assigned values, uncertainties and traceability that auditors and clients accept. Using fit-for-purpose CRMs and following robust handling/prep protocols reduces instrument drift, false outliers and the number of corrective actions — lowering the total cost per result across months of operations. Inorganic Ventures products are manufactured and documented to ISO requirements and include COAs with storage/handling instructions that laboratories need for ISO/IEC 17025 compliance.
Handling: Avoid the most common contamination pathways
Contamination usually starts at the bench. Simple rules delivered consistently remove >90% of common handling problems:
Never double-dip. Always aliquot into a clean secondary container; never pipette directly from stock or return leftover solution to a stock bottle. Even micro-contamination alters ppb-level work.
Use compatible labware. For HF-containing matrices, use HF-resistant plastics; avoid glass where HF or prolonged acid contact is expected. Type I glass is excellent for many tasks, but hydrofluoric acid and certain aggressive matrices will leach or damage containers.
Dedicated tools for low-level work. Maintain separate pipettes, tips and bottles for trace-level standards. Label and store them in a clean cabinet to avoid accidental cross-use.
Preparation: gravimetric (weight-based) is the auditable gold standard
If your lab wants reproducibility and defensible method validation, gravimetric preparation should be the default for working standards.
Why gravimetric? Mass measurements are independent of temperature and solution density, and they remove pipetting and volumetric flask thermal expansion errors — critical when preparing low-ppb standards or multi-element mixes. Inorganic Ventures explicitly recommends weight-based aliquoting for best precision.
If you must use volume: Allow solutions and glassware to equilibrate to room temperature before diluting to volume; mix after each aliquot, and let equilibrate overnight if heating occurred during prep. This avoids underfilling caused by thermal contraction.
Document everything. Record lot numbers, balances used, ambient temperature, and calculated concentrations (with uncertainty propagation). These entries are gold during audits and when troubleshooting drift.
Acid matrices, %v/v vs %w/w, and why density matters
Acid strength described as % v/v can be misleading for gravimetric calculations. For example, a “5% v/v” prepared from a 70% (w/w) nitric acid stock does not equal 5% by weight in the final solution — density and stock specification change the math.
Use weight-based or molarity units for final acid content whenever possible. If you convert between v/v and w/w, use reliable density tables (Inorganic Ventures’ guides and published nitric acid density tables are standard references). Accurate density data is necessary when converting CRM certified values (often given on a weight basis) to working volume concentrations.
Storage: minimise degradation and extend shelf life
Standards are vulnerable to slow contamination and volatility—simple storage discipline pays off.
Cap tightly and minimise headspace. Oxygen and atmospheric acid vapours can alter low-level standards through slow reactions or “reverse transpiration.” Avoid storing low-level silver or sulphide standards next to strong HCl bottles, for example.
Temperature control. Refrigerate long-term stocks where the COA recommends it; always warm to room temperature before aliquoting and re-weighing. Maintain a stable laboratory HVAC setpoint to reduce density and volume variability during prep.
Light and material compatibility. Store light-sensitive solutions in amber bottles or a dark cabinet. Verify container compatibility for your target analytes; some analytes adsorb to certain plastics or glass over time.
Certificates of Analysis (COAs): read them and use them
A CRM’s COA contains critical information: certified values, expanded uncertainties, traceability statements, lot homogeneity and recommended storage/handling. Inorganic Ventures makes COAs and SDSs searchable and encourages labs to retain PDFs in their LIMS for each lot used — this creates an auditable trail for method validation and dispute resolution.
Practical KPI suggestions — track these to measure improvement
If you deploy CRM discipline and the practices above, track these KPIs monthly to quantify benefit:
PT/QA acceptables (proficiency testing pass rate).
Repeat analysis rate (analyses requiring re-run). Aim to reduce this by double digits within 6–12 months after process changes.
Number of corrective actions raised against calibration or reagent issues.
Time to root cause for outliers (hours). Faster cause isolation indicates better documentation and control.
Why source Inorganic Ventures CRMs through GBJPL in Australia
Inorganic Ventures is an ISO-accredited CRM manufacturer and provides tailored ICP standards, multi-element mixes and custom concentrations — all with traceable COAs and global technical support. GBJPL supplies Inorganic Ventures certified reference materials in Australia, offering local stock, COA access and technical advice so you can align orders with audits and reduce lead times. That local partnership removes logistical friction and helps you adopt the practices above with supplier support.
For Further Enquiry Contact: sales@gbjpl.com.au