Question

What is the difference between repeatability and reproducibility? Define the following terms: instrument precision, intra-assay precision, intermediate precision, and interlaboratory precision. Which type of precision is a synonym for reproducibility?

Short answer

Repeatability and reproducibility are distinguished, the terms instrument precision, intra-assay precision, intermediate precision, and interlaboratory precision are defined, and the synonyms of reproducibility are named.

Step-by-step solution

The categories of precision

Precision can be categorized into two parts:

1. Repeatability

2. Reproducibility.

Repeatability and reproductivity difference

Repeatability implies how well one person can carry out the same results when analyzing the same sample by the same procedure with the same equipment in the same laboratory.

Reproducibility refers to how closely different people in different laboratories with different equipment can get the same results when analyzing similar samples by the same procedure.

Some other specific types of precision are:

1. Instrument precision.

2. Intra-assay precision.

3. Intermediate precision.

4. Interlaboratory precision.

Instrument precision

Instrument precision refers to how closely repeated observations$(\ge 10)$of the same sample with a the same instrument can lead to the same results.

Intra-assay precision

Intra-assay precision refers to how closely aliquots of a homogeneous material lead to the same results when

individual with the same equipment is analyzed multiple times on the same day.

Intermediate precision (also known as ruggedness)

Intermediate precision refers to the difference observed when different people on different instruments conduct an assay on different days in the same laboratory.

Interlaboratory precision (same as reproducibility)

Interlaboratory precision is the usual measure of reproducibility observed when different persons examine aliquots of the same sample in various laboratories