Organic and Biochemical Analysis

Organic and biochemical measurement

Helping laboratories measure amount of substance with confidence

From identifying contaminants in food to measuring clinically important molecules, reliable organic and biochemical measurements depend on reference materials and methods that allow results to be compared across laboratories and countries.

The BIPM Chemistry Department runs international comparisons that allow National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) to demonstrate their capabilities for assigning accurate values to reference materials and calibrators for small organic molecules, peptides and proteins. The comparison results provide evidence of measurement equivalence and underpin metrological traceability for measurements made in laboratories worldwide.

The BIPM’s work in organic and biochemical analysis

Small organic molecules, peptides and proteins

The BIPM’s work in this area focuses on characterising comparison materials for their purity, concentration, homogeneity and stability. These materials can then be distributed worldwide in international comparisons that assess national measurement capabilities to accurately value assign primary reference materials and calibrators for small organic molecules, peptides and proteins.

Primary reference materials

Small organic molecules

To measure how much of a particular substance is present, laboratories need reliable reference points. For small organic molecules, these can include high-purity compounds and calibration solutions with accurately assigned values.

The BIPM runs an ongoing series of international comparisons in which National Metrology Institutes demonstrate their capabilities for assigning these values. The comparison results provide evidence of measurement equivalence and a basis for metrological traceability and high-accuracy chemical measurements.

These capabilities are relevant wherever the amount of an organic substance needs to be measured reliably, including food safety, clinical chemistry, environmental analysis, forensics, pharmaceuticals and anti-doping.

Food safety is one area where local accessibility to appropriate measurement standards is key to facilitate traceable measurement results. Through its Metrology for Safe Food and Feed activities, the BIPM transfers measurement knowledge in areas including mycotoxins, pesticide residues and veterinary drug residues, helping National Metrology Institutes strengthen the reference measurement capabilities available to food-testing laboratories in their countries.

Biochemical measurement

Peptides and proteins

Peptides and proteins present an additional measurement challenge. These larger and more complex molecules can be important in areas such as clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine, where reliable measurements can provide information about health and disease.

Establishing well-characterized reference materials for peptides and proteins is an important step towards reliable quantitative biochemical measurements. The BIPM runs international comparisons in which National Metrology Institutes demonstrate their capabilities for assigning values to pure peptide and protein materials and solution calibrators.

The comparison results provide a basis for metrological traceability and high-accuracy biochemical measurements. Reliable reference systems help laboratories connect their results to common measurement references, improving comparability between methods, laboratories and countries.

For measurement specialists

Comparisons and technical resources

Explore comparison results, internationally recognized measurement capabilities and technical resources for organic and biochemical analysis.

Why do laboratories need reference materials?

Reference materials provide trusted measurement points with accurately assigned values. They allow laboratories to calibrate methods and instruments against common references, helping ensure that results for the same substance can be meaningfully compared between laboratories and countries.

How does a BIPM organic-analysis comparison work?

The BIPM runs international comparisons in which National Metrology Institutes demonstrate their measurement capabilities for assigning values to reference materials and calibrators. The results allow participating institutes to assess the equivalence of those capabilities.

What is value assignment?

Value assignment is the process of determining a property of a reference material, such as its purity or the amount of a particular substance it contains, together with the associated measurement uncertainty. Accurately assigned values allow the material to be used as a reliable reference for other measurements.

Why are peptides and proteins more challenging to measure?

Peptides and proteins are larger and structurally more complex than many small organic molecules. Developing and characterizing suitable reference materials can therefore be more difficult, yet these references are essential for reliable quantitative measurements in areas such as clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine.

Where can I find BIPM organic-analysis comparison results?

BIPM comparison pages provide information on active and completed studies. Key and supplementary comparison results, together with internationally recognized Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMCs), can also be explored through the BIPM Key Comparison Database (KCDB).