Why participate in ASTM E01?
nDrive consistency between labs
•Ensure that results from independent labs are consistent with those within an industry
•Reduce claims due to differences in analytical methods
nDevelop tools to assist in laboratory accreditation
•Standard, validated methods
•Laboratory Quality practices and guides
The next topic of why metal CRM’s are important is the topic of validation.  In today’s world, laboratories must rely on national accepted standards (i.e. ASTM, ANSI, ISO, etc.) for methods used for analysis.  But with most commodities, there are standards that do not incorporate some if not all the necessary elements required.  This is where most the labs rely on in house developed methods that they employ.  However these methods must be validated in order to make sure that they are correct.  CRM’s are a vital part to this validation process.  Also many customers of the producers of metals are checking their incoming material through the use of outside labs.  These labs are not equipped with the suite of CRM’s that are found in the producers labs and must rely on the use of either a “best” match standard or matrix match the best as possible with “liquid” standards.