A diagnostic tool for determining the quality of accuracy validation. Assessing the method for determination of nitrate in drinking water.
Realistic internal validation of a method implies the performance validation experiments under intermediate precision conditions. The validation results can be organized in an X (NrxNs) (replicates x runs) data matrix, analysis of which enables assessment of the accuracy of the method. By means of Monte Carlo simulation, uncertainty in the estimates of bias and precision can be assessed. A bivariate plot is presented for assessing whether the uncertainty intervals for the bias (E +/- U(E)) and intermediate precision (RSDi +/- U(RSDi) are included in prefixed limits (requirements for the method). As a case study, a method for determining the concentration of nitrate in drinking water at the official level set by 98/83/EC Directive is assessed by use of the proposed plot.