7. Metrological monitoring

7.1 Metrological traceability

Remember that "to measure is to compare". Whatever the measurement, the equipment used compares a quantity to a standard value.

When equipment is calibrated, the equipment's reference points are fixed. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable when using analytical equipment: before use, the operator performs a "calibration" (commonly called a calibration line) to set the equipment's reference marks.

A chromatograph's calibration line enables the equipment to establish the relationship between a measured peak area and the concentration of the desired compound, and between the retention time and the identified compound. For basic metrological equipment (balance, thermometer, etc.), the parallel can be...