Laboratory Medicine and JCTLM Landing page

Laboratory Medicine and JCTLM

Supporting metrological traceability and internationally comparable measurement results in laboratory medicine.

 
 

Laboratory measurement and patient care

Accurate results for patient care

Laboratory test results inform decisions about diagnosis, treatment and patient care. For those results to be interpreted with confidence, measurements made using different systems, in different laboratories and at different times need to be comparable.

Metrological traceability helps make this possible. The Joint Committee for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM) provides access to internationally reviewed higher-order reference materials, reference measurement procedures and reference measurement services that support traceability in laboratory medicine and in vitro diagnostics.

How JCTLM supports traceability

Connecting laboratory measurements to higher-order references

Metrological traceability links a measurement result to an appropriate higher-order reference through a documented chain of calibrations. JCTLM helps laboratories and manufacturers identify internationally reviewed references that can support this process.

Higher-order metrological references

Reference materials

Higher-order certified reference materials provide well-characterized reference values that can support calibration and the establishment of metrological traceability.

 

Higher-order metrological references

Reference measurement procedures

Higher-order reference measurement procedures provide an accurate reference method of low uncertainty for particular measurements and are reviewed against internationally agreed JCTLM criteria.

 

Higher-order metrological references

Reference measurement services

Reference laboratories provide measurement services on matrix materials to IVD industry using recognized higher-order procedures that can support traceability within laboratory measurement systems.

Together, these resources support laboratories and manufacturers in establishing metrological traceability through measurement systems, supporting comparable measurement results for patient samples.

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International review

Trusted references, reviewed internationally

Resources are not simply added to the JCTLM Database. Nominated reference materials, procedures and services are reviewed against internationally agreed JCTLM criteria before approved entries are published.

Explore the nomination and review process →
 
1. Nomination Materials, procedures and services are submitted for review.
2. Expert review Review teams assess nominations against the relevant criteria.
3. Approval Review outcomes are considered through the JCTLM process.
4. Publication Approved higher-order references are published in the database.

International collaboration

JCTLM brings together international organizations, experts, reference providers and stakeholders in laboratory medicine. The BIPM provides the JCTLM Secretariat and supports its work through the Chemistry Department.

For laboratory medicine specialists

JCTLM resources and technical information

Access the database, nomination and review information, and resources supporting implementation of metrological traceability in laboratory medicine.

Higher-order references

JCTLM Database

Search reviewed higher-order reference materials, reference measurement procedures and reference measurement services.

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Database procedures

Nomination and review

Access criteria, nomination templates and information about the review of reference materials, procedures and services.

See nominations and review →

Education and implementation

Traceability resources

Explore education, workshops, guidance and specialist resources supporting understanding and implementation of metrological traceability in laboratory medicine.

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Frequently asked questions

Find quick answers to common questions about JCTLM, metrological traceability and higher-order references in laboratory medicine.

What is the JCTLM?

The Joint Committee for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM) supports worldwide comparability, reliability and equivalence of measurement results in laboratory medicine by promoting internationally recognized reference measurement systems and metrological traceability.

What is metrological traceability in laboratory medicine?

Metrological traceability provides a documented relationship between a measurement result and an appropriate higher-order reference through an unbroken chain of calibrations, each contributing to the measurement uncertainty.

What can I find in the JCTLM Database?

The JCTLM Database lists available higher-order certified reference materials, higher-order reference measurement procedures and reference measurement services that have undergone review against JCTLM criteria.

How are resources added to the JCTLM Database?

Producers of certified reference materials, authors of reference measurement procedures and laboratories providing reference measurement services can submit nominations. These are reviewed against the relevant JCTLM criteria before approved entries are published in the database.

Who uses the JCTLM Database?

The database supports organizations and specialists involved in establishing and demonstrating metrological traceability in laboratory medicine and in vitro diagnostics, including reference laboratories, National Metrology Institutes, the IVD industry and healthcare and quality-assurance communities.

Explore the BIPM Chemistry Department

Learn more about the Chemistry Department’s programmes, international activities and measurement expertise.

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