CHAPTER 12: Metrology of DNA Approaches

Metrology is the science of measurement, involving many aspects, including the traceability and comparability of nucleic-acid-based measurements. Food safety, authenticity and nutrition are key aspects requiring traceable results that are comparable between laboratories on a worldwide basis. In order to fulfil these requirements, National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) and Designated Institutes (DIs) are developing appropriate metrological infrastructures and capacities that are tested through key comparison studies and investigating potential sources of variability between measurements and other factors influencing the measurement uncertainties. It is expected that the role of metrology in nucleic acid detection, identification and quantification will further strengthen and develop in the future.