The General Chemical State Laboratory (GCSL) ↗, part of the Independent Authority of Public Revenue (AADE) ↗ in Athens, Greece, hosted a one-day online training course on Metrological Traceability, Interlaboratory Comparisons, and Reference Materials in Chemical Measurements. Organised as part of the first PARC training plan, the event brought together 132 participants from 30 countries, with diverse backgrounds in research, analytical chemistry, and laboratory quality assurance, on 17 October 2025.

The course provided participants with a practical understanding of essential metrological principles that ensure the accuracy, comparability, and reliability of chemical measurements. Through expert-led sessions and interactive discussions, key topics included the establishment of traceability chains, the design and evaluation of interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs), and the production and application of certified reference materials (CRMs).

The establishment of metrological traceability is paramount to delivering meaningful results that can be comparable in time and space and provide the basis for informed decision-making. Missing traceability links to the international system of units lead to research output that is data-rich but information-poor (DRIP), highlighted Ilias Kakoulidis, scientific coordinator.

Eugenia Dessipri, invited expert from AADE, added: Interlaboratory collaboration in method validation is a tool towards FAIR data production, avoiding duplication of efforts and building capacities.

The programme covered SI units in chemical measurement, ILC planning and statistical analysis, and the role of RMs and CRMs in calibration and quality control. Sessions emphasised how these components can be integrated into laboratory quality management systems. Trainers from AADE and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) combined theoretical concepts with real-world applications.

Marina Ricci, trainer from JRC, commented: Driven by the EU interest in human biomonitoring, the Reference Materials Unit of JRC decided to combine internal expertise to produce CRMs for relevant organic chemicals in HBM. The contribution of expert laboratories will be essential for the success of this effort.

Đorđe Tadić, also a trainer from JRC, added: Available CRMs and RMs in biological matrices are scarce and mostly concern elements rather than organic metabolites.

Participants responded very positively to the training. 

I really enjoyed participating in the course, which is highly valuable for laboratory technicians. It strengthens understanding of measurement reliability and ensures the accuracy and comparability of chemical analyses. It will be very useful in my daily work, shared Carla Valongo, a trainee from Portugal.

Niko Hellsten, trainee from Finland, added: The topics were interesting and relevant to my future work in evaluating analytical quality of water measurements.

With an increasing need for harmonised, high-quality data, this training supported PARC’s broader goal of building capacity and reinforced its commitment to generating reliable and comparable data across laboratories and institutions throughout Europe.

For upcoming training opportunities, stay tuned to the PARC website.