Scribd
Upload
82 views

DR Check Guidance Document

The DR/Check Absorbance Standards are secondary standards used to verify instrument performance independent of sample or chemistry variables. They consist of three absorbance standards of increasing values plus a blank, stored upright at room temperature in glass cells. The standards were designed for use on specific instruments but can be used on other spectrophotometers. They provide absorbance values at four wavelengths to confirm instrument performance out of the box and on a daily basis without preparing solutions. While the standards can detect changes, they do not identify specific issues like wavelength accuracy or stray light.

Uploaded by

Laboratory Technician
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
82 views

DR Check Guidance Document

The DR/Check Absorbance Standards are secondary standards used to verify instrument performance independent of sample or chemistry variables. They consist of three absorbance standards of increasing values plus a blank, stored upright at room temperature in glass cells. The standards were designed for use on specific instruments but can be used on other spectrophotometers. They provide absorbance values at four wavelengths to confirm instrument performance out of the box and on a daily basis without preparing solutions. While the standards can detect changes, they do not identify specific issues like wavelength accuracy or stray light.

Uploaded by

Laboratory Technician
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

DR/Check User Guidance Document

The DR/Check Absorbance Standards (part number 2763900) are secondary standards used to
verify instrument performance. The standards provide a specific absorbance at a specific
wavelength. They are best used as part of a Quality Control Program to verify instrument
response independent of sample or chemistry variables. The standards set consist of three
absorbance standards plus a lot-specific absorbance blank in 25 mm glass sample cells. The
standards were originally designed for use with the DR/800 instrument platform. Recently, their
use has been extended to the DR/2400 and DR/2500 instrument platforms. They are usable with
any colorimeter or spectrophotometer that can accommodate a 25 mm round sample cell. The
standards use a modification of the technology used in the color cube product line. The final
product is a soft gel formulated to be hard enough to not flow if tipped, but still soft enough to not
separate from or crack the glass cell walls. To insure optimum performance the standards should
be stored in an upright position in the box at room temperature. Standards that have separated
from the cell walls should be replaced.

Because the DR/Checks were designed for the DR/800 instrument platform, the absorbance
values are specified at 420 nm, 520 nm, 560n, and 610 nm. Specific absorbance values plus a
tolerance range are given for each of the three standards at each wavelength. These twelve
values are listed on a Certificate of Analysis that accompanies each set. The three standards are
designed to be of increasing absorbance with nominal targets of 0.6, 1.2 and 1.8 absorbance
units. Formulating standards that have approximate equal absorbance values across the entire
visible spectrum gives a gray color. The standards are similar to the glass neutral density filters
that are commercially available. The standards may be used at other wavelengths; however a
user will need to establish the absorbance values at each alternative wavelength.

The values listed on the COA for each lot of standards produced are determined at the time of
production and are average mean values determined by sampling a specified number of sets
determined by the lot size. Standards and blanks should always be kept together and never
switched between lots of Spec Checks. Each lot of standards has an expiration date of
approximately 18 months from the time of manufacture. The standards do not have NIST
traceability.

The DR/Checks provide two primary benefits to the end-user. They function as an independent
standard to confirm that an instrument is reading an absorbance value consistent with the value
supplied with the standards set. This “Out of the Box” type confirmation gives an end-user
confidence that his or her instrument is reading absorbance values correctly at four different
wavelengths over an approximate absorbance range of 0 – 2 absorbance units at each
wavelength. These initial values obtained on the user’s specific instrument are then recorded on a
blank table that is supplied with the kit. The table has an adhesive back that can be readily
applied to a notebook or directly to the instrument. Secondly, the DR/Checks provide an easy
means to confirm the instrument’s continued performance on a daily basis. No solutions or
chemical reagents need be prepared. This provides a means to effectively troubleshoot
performance issues should they arise. All chemistry related issues can be eliminated and
instrument performance can be confirmed. The performance checks also provide feedback to
managers, supervisors or inspectors who are concerned with insuring optimum instrument
performance in field applications. .

It is important to remember the DR/Checks do not specifically give confirmation of wavelength


accuracy nor do they specifically indicate stray light or filter deterioration problems. When test
results fall outside the tolerance limits it may be for one of the above reasons, but it cannot be
specifically attributed to any one problem. The response of the instrument is an all-inclusive
value encompassing all possible sources of instrument error. The DR/Checks can confirm if
changes in instrument response have occurred, but they cannot specifically identify the cause of
the changes.

Pat Wiese
Application Scientist
June 11, 2003

You might also like