Investigating Plastic–Metal Interactions in Aquatic Environments Using Laser Ablation ICP–MS and Chemical Markers

<h4>Types of comparisons&nbsp;</h4>Interlaboratory comparisons mean organisation, performance and evaluation of measurements and tests on the same or similar items by two or more laboratories in accordance with predetermined conditions. Comparisons are organised at all scientific levels, but the objectives, protocols and participants vary. In certification trials, the measurements are used to assign values to reference materials. In method validation studies (collaborative trials), the performance, e.g. trueness and precision of methods, is evaluated. The most accurate measurements are compared world-wide in ’key comparisons’.&nbsp;Proficiency testing (PT) schemes – also known as ‘external quality assessment (EQA) schemes’ or ‘laboratory performance studies’ – are one means of assessing the quality of routine measurements. PT schemes are the most common, and perhaps the most important, type of interlaboratory comparisons.&nbsp;<h4>Advantages of PT&nbsp;</h4>Participation in PT enables you to compare your results with those from other laboratories. It can also provide you with:&nbsp;<ul><li>Regular, objective and independent assessment of the quality of your routine analyses;&nbsp;</li><li>Feedback that stimulates improvement of the technical work;</li><li>Comparative information about method and instrument performance;</li><li>An overview of the quality of specific analyses in a sector, country or region.&nbsp;</li></ul><h4>Limitations of PT&nbsp;</h4>Ideally, PT samples are similar in nature to routine samples, and sufficiently homogeneous and stable not to influence the evaluation of participants’ performance. Due to practical aspects, PT samples are sometimes processed, e.g. stabilised and/or freeze-dried. Participants should be aware of this.&nbsp;PT schemes can be organised and evaluated in many different ways. There is no perfect protocol! For laboratories and their customers, and for accreditation and regulatory bodies, it can be important to know if the same result is judged differently by different PT providers.<h4>Appropriate PT schemes&nbsp;</h4>The huge number of analytes, and the large variety in the way tests are performed, means that it is not always possible to find a scheme that meets a laboratory’s exact requirements. Before signing up for a scheme, carefully check that the test materials, and the analytes and their levels fit your routine measurement procedures. Is the frequency appropriate and does the provider’s report give you sufficient information?&nbsp;<h4>Role of PT in measurement quality&nbsp;</h4>Correct measurements require both internal and external ‘tools’. During the validation step, the performance of the method is established. Subsequent use of control charts will show if the measurements are under statistical control. Many laboratories choose to accredit their services, thereby agreeing to implement a quality management system and accepting regular external audits of their work. Participating in PT is an effective external means to check that the procedures are fit for purpose!&nbsp;<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Eurachem_Proficiency_testing_schemes_and_other_interlaboratory_comparisons_2_7688414cd9.jpg" alt="Eurachem: Proficiency testing schemes and other interlaboratory comparisons" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Eurachem_Proficiency_testing_schemes_and_other_interlaboratory_comparisons_2_7688414cd9.jpg 206w," sizes="100vw" width="848" height="642"><h4>Educational aspects&nbsp;</h4>PT offers opportunities for education and training. Many providers have regular user meetings to discuss results and problem areas. Virtual PT schemes, using digital images of the samples, enable an unlimited number of participants, immediate feedback and repeated assessments.<h4>Accreditation of PT providers&nbsp;</h4>Some providers choose to accredit their PT schemes. The work with organising and evaluating the results will then be assessed according to international guidelines, similar to calibration and testing laboratories.<h4>Use of PT results&nbsp;</h4>Because PT schemes provide an overview of the analytical quality for specific applications, the results are increasingly used by laboratories’ customers, and by accreditation and regulatory bodies. PT helps identify measurement problems, which have a direct impact on trade, environmental monitoring, and health and safety.&nbsp;<h4>More information / further reading&nbsp;</h4>Information about PT providers and schemes can be obtained from your national accreditation body, from the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.eptis.org/">EPTIS website</a> or from other national or international organisations.

Proficiency testing schemes and other interlaboratory comparisons

We are excited to announce that registration for the 12th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Food Analysis (RAFA 2026), along with the call for abstracts and travel grants for young scientists, is now officially open!<h3>Key dates</h3><ul><li>May 31, 2026: Application for Young scientist travel grant</li><li>June 30, 2026<ul><li>Application for participation as a Sponsor or Exhibitor or Media partner</li><li>Abstract submission for oral presentation</li><li>Reduced registration fee</li></ul></li><li>August 31, 2026: Abstract submission for poster presentation</li><li>September 30, 2026: Last minute posters submission</li><li>November 3 - 6, 20026: 12th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Food Analysis (RAFA 2026) in Prague, Czech Republic</li></ul><h3>Registration</h3><blockquote>👉<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://rafa.easyevent.eu/tickets/">Registration for RAFA 2026 is OPEN!</a>Early-bird registration until 30 June, 2026</blockquote>After successful submission of your registration, you will receive by e-mail (i) an automatic confirmation of receipt indicating the total amount of payment due (either for bank transfer or for on-line payment by card), (ii) login to Member section where you can administrate your profile, submit your abstracts, and from September 2026 register for satellite events, workshops and seminars. If it will not be delivered within a few minutes after submission of your registration please contact us at RAFA2026@vscht.cz.As soon as payment of registration fee is processed, you will also receive by e-mail (iii) confirmation of payment.<h4>Important notice:</h4>Registration fee of those who have submitted an abstract for oral or poster presentation has to be received until September 30, 2026, otherwise these contribution(s) will not be included into the Book of Abstracts and the Conference programme.<h4>Registration Fees</h4><ul><li>Smart rate (Until 30 June, 2026): € 655</li><li>Regular registration (Until 30 September, 2026): € 855</li><li>Late registration (From 1 October, 2026): € 955</li><li>Student rate*&nbsp;<ul><li>Until 30 June, 2026: € 465</li><li>From 1 July, 2026: € 605</li></ul></li></ul>* The proof of student status (e.g. copy of a student identify card) is requested as an attachment of the registration form.<h5>The regular registration fee will include:</h5><ul><li>Attendance at all scientific sessions, workshops, seminars, vendor seminars and other satellite events</li><li>Access to the poster and exhibition area</li><li>Conference kit (name badge, conference bag, conference documents, certificate of participation, certificate of presentation on request)</li><li>Final programme</li><li>E-Book of Abstracts</li><li>Coffee breaks</li><li>Buffet luncheons</li><li>Welcome drink</li></ul>In the registration form you can register free of charge for the welcome drink and you can also order ticket(s) for the conference dinner (€ 85).Please note that your registration is firm when your payment has been received.<h3>Abstract submission</h3><blockquote>👉<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://rafa.easyevent.eu/tickets/">CALL for ABSTRACTS is OPEN!</a>In order to submit an abstract, you must first register to attend RAFA 2026. After registration you will receive an access to the Member section where you can submit your abstract(s).</blockquote>&nbsp;After successful submission of your abstract you will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt of submitted abstract via e-mail. If it will not be delivered within a few minutes after submission of your abstract please check at first your spam box-mail and then contact us at RAFA2026@vscht.cz.Please ensure that your abstract does not contain spelling, grammatical or scientific errors. Even though modifications of your submitted abstract will be allowed in the Abstract section of the Member section until the deadline for the abstract submission, please be confident on the lack of errors in your final version prior to starting the submission process.The abstract will be reproduced exactly as submitted. No proofreading will be done, although some corrections may be requested by the reviewers.If you need to withdraw your abstract, a written statement reflecting the reasons for this decision must be sent to RAFA2026@vscht.cz no later than September 30, 2026.<h4>Important notice:</h4><blockquote>1 registered participant can submit no more than 2 abstracts.</blockquote>To apply for a young scientist’s oral presentation, as an indication please respect the rule that you should be born in 1991 or later.The text of the abstract should be limited to 3000 characters including spaces. Tables and pictures are not allowed.Abstracts of oral presentations and posters will be included into the "e-Book of Abstracts" only after receipt of the conference registration fee. Any payment of the registration fee has to be received until September 30, 2026, otherwise contribution(s) will not be included into the e-Book of Abstracts and the Conference programme.<h3>Special opportunities for young scientists:</h3><ul><li>Dedicated slots for oral presentations within the main scientific programme</li><li>Competitive travel grants for young scientists</li><li>Award(s) for the best poster presentation(s)</li></ul>Whether you are a PhD student or an early-career researcher, RAFA 2026 offers a unique opportunity to present your work, gain international exposure and connect with leading experts in the field.Be part of this inspiring scientific event and join us in Prague!

RAFA 2026 - Registration & Call for Abstracts are now OPEN

Article

Events

Academy

Video

Food

Scientific article

Science and research

RAFA provides an overview of contemporary trends in ANALYTICAL & BIOANALYTICAL STRATEGIES IN FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY CONTROL and discusses CHALLENGES / NOVEL APPROACHES IN FOOD AND NATURAL PRODUCTS ANALYSIS.

Recent Advances in Food Analysis (RAFA)

Eurachem is a European network promoting international traceability of chemical measurements and good analytical practice. It provides expert guidance, supports method validation, uncertainty evaluation, proficiency testing, and facilitates discussion on technical and policy issues in analytical quality.

Eurachem

Everything from the world of analytical chemistry in one place. We connect people in solving their problems. At Labrulez you will find all the necessary information easily, quickly and clearly. Stop searching and start finding.

LabRulez

Separation Science

Metrohm

Shimadzu Corporation

SciY/Mestrelab Research

Learn more about handheld Raman technologies and their effectiveness for raw material control in pharmaceutical manufacturing settings.
The use of the NanoRam-1064 is highlighted as it can be used to overcome fluorescence and is able to identify many complex and colored materials often used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Katherine A. Bakeev, Ph.D. (B&amp;W Tek)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Adam J. Hopkins, Ph.D. (Metrohm USA)
</blockquote>

Raw Material Control Strategies

Learn more about handheld Raman technologies and their effectiveness for raw material control in pharmaceutical manufacturing settings.

Raw Material Control Strategies with handheld Raman

In this webinar, learn how accurate, reliable and portable screening tools can help detect substandard and counterfeit medicines.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Mustapha Hajjou (PQM, U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention)
</blockquote>

Metrohm: Screening in post-marketing surveillance

Screening in post-marketing surveillance

In this webinar, learn how accurate, reliable and portable screening tools can help detect substandard and counterfeit medicines.

Medicines Quality Screening in post-marketing surveillance

This webinar discusses the official guidelines for the analysis of polyols by NIRS and the basic principles of NIRS and how this technology is implemented in the QC laboratory.
In the practical part, Dr. Omar Sallouh, Head of Quality Assurance &amp; Process Engineering at Rampf Polymer Solutions GmbH &amp; Co. Kg will outline his first-hand experiences with polyol, isocyanates, and silicones analysis using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Metrohm: Efficient QA/QC of polyols by NIRS – Theory and praxis

Efficient QA/QC of polyols by NIRS – Theory and praxis

The official guidelines for the analysis of polyols by NIRS and the basic principles of NIRS and how this technology is implemented in the QC laboratory.

This webinar hosted by the European Pharmaceutical Review together with Metrohm deals with how to implement near-infrared spectroscopy in pharmaceutical processes.

NIRS in pharma processes

How to implement near-infrared spectroscopy in pharmaceutical processes.

Learn more about reducing the cost of quality control using near-infrared spectroscopy. This webinar shows how Herbalife has implemented NIRS in their QC/QA workflows.

Optimized QC with NIRS

Learn more about reducing the cost of quality control using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Discover how NIRS can help you in the monitoring of polymer production. This webinar gives an introduction into the topic and provides some examples of applications in place at Cytec.

NIRS in polymer production

Discover how NIRS can help you in the monitoring of polymer production.

This webinar will cover the timeline of data reliability regulations, guidelines for computerized systems, regulatory notices and warnings regarding quality testing, and other points on data integrity.

Shimadzu: Data Integrity Trends and Solutions

Data Integrity Trends and Solutions

Timeline of data reliability regulations, guidelines for computerized systems, regulatory notices and warnings regarding quality testing.

This was the first in a series of Mnova Gears related seminars which are planned. Later seminars in the series will go into various aspects of the platform in more detail, and share more in depth use cases.
<h3>ABSTRACT</h3>
This webinar provides an introduction to the Mnova Gears automation platform, a simple yet powerful tool for automating your spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses and reporting. It describes the main concepts and features of the tool, the available plugins, and provide a number of easy to follow of examples of how it can be used for typical analyses involving NMR and LCMS data.
<h5>What to expect</h5>
A simple explanation of the tool and examples of how to use it that should empower you to go away and start using it yourself. Future seminars in this series will cover more advanced functionality such as customization with scripting, and real world examples from users.
<h5>Key points</h5>
<ul>
<li>Learn how to automate routine analyses at the sample or batch level</li>
<li>Find out about the range of plugins available and the scope of their application</li>
<li>See real and relevant examples demonstrated in a way that would allow you to implement them yourself</li>
</ul>
<h5>Who should attend?</h5>
Researchers and analysts in pharma, biotech, fine chemicals or academia who have analytical chemistry processes (large or small scale) that they would like to automate. Scientists who are tired of spending time on routine analyses and want to free up resources for more challenging tasks.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Gary Sharman (Senior Scientific Director, Mestrelab Research)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Gary joined Mestrelab in June 2020, following 20 years working in major pharma companies within the field of analytical chemistry. Gary specializes in NMR, LCMS and data management and has worked on many real world projects involving automation of sample analysis.
</blockquote>

Mestrelab Research: An Introduction to Mnova Gears (Part I)

An Introduction to Mnova Gears (Part I)

An introduction to the Mnova Gears automation platform, a simple yet powerful tool for automating your spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses and reporting.

Our colleague Dr.Pablo Monje, Applications Scientist at Mestrelab kindly answered your pre-filled questions about either of the following plugins: Mnova NMR, NMR Predict, MS and ElViS (Electronic and Vibrational Spectroscopies). Pablo showed you similar examples about the best practises using Mnova for your cases on a live demonstration.<h5>What to expect</h5><ul><li>Aims to cover a fair amount of the submitted questions to help you increasing your data analysis efficiency using Mnova</li><li>Questions about Mnova NMR advanced plugins will be out of the scope for this workshop</li></ul><h5>Key points</h5><ul><li>Submit your questions about Mnova to our experts when filling in the registration form to our experts when filling in the registration form.</li><li>Watch live cases with examples of best practices and useful workflows, which may solve any doubts you may have about Mnova.</li></ul><h5>Who Should Attend?</h5>Researchers and analysts in pharma, biotech, fine chemicals and many more scientific fields in industry or academia who are curently using any of the following plugins Mnova NMR, NMR Predict, MS and ElViS or the whole Mnova Suite combo.<blockquote>Presenter: Dr. Pablo Monje (Applications Chemist, Mestrelab Research)Pablo Monje is an Applications Chemist at Mestrelab since February 2007. He received his B.S. in Organic Chemistry in 2001 at the University of Santiago de Compostela. From 2002 to 2006 he was a grant holder of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture (FPU). In 2004 he worked at the University of California, Berkeley and he returned to Spain to obtain his Ph.D. degree.Presenter: Dr. Chen Peng (VP of Business Development – US and Asia (Mestrelab Research))Dr. Chen Peng is the Vice President of Business Development for North America and Asia at Mestrelab Research. He obtained his PhD from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry. Then he did post-doctoral research work on selective excitation NMR spectroscopy in Prof Geoffrey Bodenhausen’s group in the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (Tallahassee, FL). Chen also spent some years working at Spectrum Research, MSI/Accelrys, and Bio-Rad Informatics until he joined Mestrelab Research in 2008.</blockquote>

Mestrelab Researchr: Mnova Suite workshop – Ask the expert!

Mnova Suite workshop – Ask the expert!

This workshop will give our existing Mnova customers the opportunity to submit in advance any questions or workflow improvements to our Mnova team

This webinar will discuss returning to productive laboratory operations in the new normal working environment. Covid-19 has effected us all and we will address the positive impact that your asset management strategy can have on the productivity of your changing labs. We will review service, inventory, and instrument utilization considerations for both short-term and long-term planning and the effective roles and responsibilities necessary to restore labs.
You all contribute to the success of your businesses at a variety of points in operational processes. The impact of getting to market faster and more efficiently affects more than the financial bottom line. Though it has been difficult to see what normal will be through the uncertainty of the past few months, business responsibilities to patients and consumers, to employees, and to society remain paramount. Patients and consumers rely on the innovation and initiative of companies to improve their lives; companies rely on their employees to meet the societal needs of these times and of the future. The environment that you operate in has changed, but your priority outputs and the goals have not.
<h3>By attending this webinar you will...</h3>
<ul>
<li>Hear suggestions, tips and consideration for returning to lab operations following shutdowns or changes to regular business</li>
<li>Learn how to address checklists and schedules, asset management process opportunities, and some changes that may occur</li>
<li>Discover further resources allowing you to dive deeper into particular areas.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Diane Amato (Enablement Manager, Agilent)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Diane is a Lean Six Sigma Consultant with Agilent Technologies whose main goal is to bring process improvement methodologies to customers to improve their business operations. Her passion for the lab, as an integral part of bettering patient lives, combined with her analytical and focused approach to improvement, provides clarity for customers to find their way through challenging changes and transform their current operations.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: John Murray (Enterprise Project Manager, Agilent)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
John is extensively experienced in designing and leading Inventory Management programs across the Americas. He has applied his project management skills across multiple sectors including Pharma, Crime &amp; Biologics, and Health &amp; Beauty. John offers reliable consultation on instrument and workflow requirements and laboratory design and successfully manages large laboratory relocations.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Melissa Zeier (Applications Expert, Agilent)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Melissa has been in the drug development, testing, and laboratory services industries for approximately 15 years. She began her career in big pharma working in high throughput biomarker testing, then moved into the pre-clinical contract testing field specializing in chiral analyte method development for LC-MS/MS. Melissa transitioned to auditing GLP bioanalytical studies before exercising her expertise in the pharma and biopharma sectors as a business intelligence analyst, driving product and service development in the pre-clinical testing industry for a top 3 preclinical CRO.
</blockquote>