Interlaboratory comparisons

IRMM operates an International Measurement Evaluation Programme ( IMEP), a Regular European Interlaboratory Measurement Evaluation Programme (REIMEP) for nuclear measurements, an Interlaboratory Measurement Evaluation Programme for Nuclear Signatures in the environment ( NUSIMEP), and organises proficiency tests and validation studies.

Many of the interlaboratory comparisons are open to all laboratories that wish to participate but some are restricted to e.g. national reference laboratories or in the case of nuclear measurements to those that are licenced to keep/import radioactive samples. Proficiency test are normally carried out only on request of another Commission department or agency. Some comparisons are run to certify reference materials and validation studies are organised regularly to validate analysis methods.

On-going comparisons


Evaluation Description Type Participation Status Links/contact
IMEP-108 determination of total Cd, Pb, As, Hg and Sn and extractable amounts of Cd and Pb in feed of plant origin proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories for heavy metals in feed and food only completed more
IMEP-29 determination of total Cd, Pb, As, Hg and Sn and extractable amounts of Cd and Pb in feed of plant origin proficiency test open to all closed more
IMEP-107 determination of total and inorganic As in rice proficiency test open to all closed more
PAHs in edible oil analysis of 15+1 EU priority PAHs in olive oil and solvent solution proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories for PAHs only registration open, deadline 15 Sep 2009, samples dispatch within 10 Oct 2009
3-MCPD esters in edible oil determination of 3-MCPD esters in contaminated edible oil, spiked edible oil and solvent solution proficiency test open to all registration open; deadline 15/09/09 more
T-2 / HT-2 toxins in cereals analysis of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in two naturally contaminated cereal samples and one spiked cereal sample proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories for mycotoxins only ongoing / deadline for submission of results: 21/08/09
PAHs in fish products analysis of 15+1 EU priority PAHs in smoked fish, fish and solvent solution proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories for PAHs only ongoing / deadline for submitting of results: 11/09/09 more
IMEP-106 determination of total Cd, Pb, As and Hg in food supplements proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories for heavy metals in feed and food only completed more
IMEP-28 analysis of total Cd, Pb, As and Hg in food supplements international measurement evaluation open to all completed more
IMEP-25b determination of bromate in drinking water international measurement evaluation (proficiency test) open to all completed more
IMEP-25a determination of bromate in drinking water international measurement evaluation (collaborative trial) open to all with experience in bromate in water analysis completed more
IMEP-24 analysis of heavy metals in toys international measurement evaluation open to all completed more
melamine in foodstuffs two samples containing melamine: skimmed milk powder and baking mix proficiency test open to all completed more
IMEP-27 analysis of total Cd, Pb and As and extractable Cd and Pb in mineral feed international measurement evaluation open to all completed more
IMEP-105 analysis of total Cd, Pb and As and extractable Cd and Pb in mineral feed proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories for heavy metals in feed and food only completed more
mineral oil in sunflower oil determination of mineral oil in contaminated sunflower oil, spiked sunflower oil and solvent solution proficiency test open to all completed Report EUR_23811 (icon 1086KB )
deoxynivalenol (DON) in cereal products analysis of DON in cereal products and solvent solution proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories for mycotoxins only completed more
PAHs in meat products analysis of 15+1 EU priority PAHs in sausage and solvent solution proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories for PAHs only completed more
FURAN-01 analysis of furan in baby food   open to all; number of participants restricted to 60 completed more
acrylamide in coffee analysis of acrylamide in roasted coffee method validation study invited laboratories completed
IMEP-104 analysis of total Cd, Pb, As, Hg and MeHg in seafood proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories for heavy metals in feed and food only completed more
NUSIMEP-6 uranium isotope amount ratios in uranium particles international measurement evaluation open to all completed NUSIMEP
IMEP-103 analysis of total Cd, Pb, Hg and extractable Cd and Pb in feed proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories for heavy metals in feed and food only completed more
IMEP-23 eight WFD priority PAHs in ground water with added humic acids international measurement evaluation open to all completed April 2008 IMEP
ochratoxin in food analysis of OTA in spices proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories for mycotoxins in food only completed more
acrylamide analysis of acrylamide in crisps proficiency test open to all; maximum number of participants 60 completed more
PAHs in edible oil analysis of 15+1 EU priority PAHs in edible oil and solvent solution proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories for PAHs only completed more
IMEP-102 analysis of total Cd, Pb and Hg in mineral water proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories for heavy metals in feed and food only completed more
aflatoxins in food analysis of aflatoxins in a peanut material proficiency test nominated national reference laboratories only completed more
ochratoxin in feed analysis of OTA in animal feed method validation open to all completed
fumonisins in food analysis of fumonisins in breakfast cereals and baby food method validation open to all completed  
Fusarium toxins in feed analysis of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, T-2 and HT-2 toxins in animal feed method validation - LC-MS open to all new campaign: registration open
Fusarium toxins in food analysis of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, T-2 and HT-2 toxins in baby food method validation - LC-MS open to all new campaign: registration open
Fusarium toxins in cereals analysis of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, T-2 and HT-2 toxins in cereals method validation - LC-MS open to all new campaign: registration open
sucralose in food analysis of sucralose in soft drinks by thin layer chromatography method validation open to all completed  
aflatoxins in pure solvent analysis of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 in acetonitrile assessment of instrument calibration nominated national reference laboratories for mycotoxins in food and feed only completed more information
sweeteners in food analysis of eight sweeteners in various food matrices method validation open to all completed more information
PAHs in solvent analysis of 15+1 priority PAHs in acetonitrile assessment of instrument calibration nominated national reference laboratories for PAHs in food only completed; report available more information
PAHs in primary smoke condensate analysis of 16 PAHs in a smoke condensate mixture proficiency test open to all completed to the information page
REIMEP-18 isotopic abundances of uranium international measurement evaluation open to all completed; reports available REIMEP





Last Update 04/03/2010