Question

What is the difference between an instrument detection limit and a method detection limit? What is the difference between robustness and intermediate precision?

Short answer

The analytical approach applied is said to be robust if it is capable of not being influenced by extremely minor changes in the operational parameters (having robustness). Ruggedness, on the other hand, is a type of precision that can be seen when an assay is carried out by different people using different tools on different days in the same laboratory.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of instrument detection limit and method detection limit

Instrument detection limit

In analytical chemistry, Instrument detection limit can be found by replicating the measurements of the sample.

Method detection limit

In analytical chemistry, Method detection limit can be found by analyzing every single sample.

The difference between an instrument detection limit and a method detection limit

The difference between them is that the method detection limit is attainable when we prepare at least 7 separate samples and analyze all of them. Contrary to this, the instrument detection limit is attainable when we perform replicate measurements of at least 7 aliquots coming from the same sample source. Moreover, the method detection limit is greater than the instrument detection limit.

Robustness

In analytical chemistry, robustness can be defined as the capacity of analytical process which can't be used affected by small changes.

Intermediate precision

In analytical chemistry, intermediate precision can be defined as the measure of precision under different kind of conditions. Such as same amount procedure, same measuring system, same location and same replicate measurements on the similar objects over an estimated period of time.