Monthly Archives: January 2026

High total dissolved solids (TDS) matrices can cause signal suppression/enhancement, drift, and poor reproducibility in ICP-OES and ICP-MS. Matrix-matched standards reduce this bias by matching, as closely as possible, the chemistry of the standards to the chemistry of the samples. Custom CRMs help by locking in acids, dissolved solids, and element groupings under controlled, documented conditions.

What High TDS Does to ICP-OES and ICP-MS (and why it shows up as “bad data”)

Mining samples rarely arrive in a clean nitric acid matrix. After digestion or leaching, labs often end up with solutions that contain high acid and high TDS. Dilution is a common workaround, but it isn’t always possible, espec

Mining laboratories face some of the most demanding analytical challenges in elemental analysis. Ore samples, concentrates, and process solutions contain complex matrices with high dissolved solids, variable acid compositions, and unpredictable levels of interfering elements. When these samples reach your ICP-OES or ICP-MS instrument, even small variations in matrix composition can dramatically shift analyte signals, leading to inaccurate results that compromise  data, process optimization, and compliance reporting.

Internal standards offer a proven solution for these matrix-related challenges. By adding a carefully selected reference element to every blank, standard, and sample at identical concentrations, laboratories can mathematically correct for signal variations caused by matrix differences, instrument drift, and changes in plasma conditions. This approach is particularly

ISO 17025 accreditation represents the gold standard for analytical testing laboratories worldwide. Achieving and maintaining this accreditation requires demonstrating competence, impartiality, and consistent operation according to internationally recognized standards. Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) play a crucial role in meeting these requirements, providing the metrological traceability and measurement uncertainty documentation that auditors expect.

This comprehensive guide examines how CRMs support ISO 17025 compliance, covering documentation requirements, validation protocols, common audit pitfalls, and practical implementation strategies that will help your laboratory maintain accreditation with confidence.

When auditors ask, “How do you know your results are right?” the answer hinges on metrological traceability—an unbroken chain that links your reported value to a recognized reference through a documented series of comparisons with known uncertainties. In modern analytical labs, Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) are the backbone of that proof. This guide shows you how to build, document, and defend traceability with CRMs—step by step and audit-ready.

Short on time? Explore our CRM portfolio now: ICP-ICP-MS Standards, Single-Element Standar