The theory: some generic issues in the revision of VIM

Unambiguous and consistent concepts and terms such as measurand, metrological traceability, measurement uncertainty, comparability of measurement results, target measurement uncertainty, etc., must govern the description of results of chemical measurements in order to enable a valid comparison of measurement results. This is not yet the case, as numerous workshops worldwide have shown over the last decade , and as chemical literature continuously displays. For international trade in food and feed to be fair, for border-crossing implementation of environmental regulations to be the same for all parties concerned, for interchangeability of results of clinical measurements to become a reality, and for any border-crossing interpretation of measurement results in chemistry to become possible, well-understood and mutually accepted concepts and terms are essential. Similarly, their translation from English into 30–40 other languages must be realized and fixed unequivocally. Countries using English as a common language have not yet realized the considerable advantage they have over countries where translated terms describing concepts may not yet be available, let alone understood and accepted. A number of ambiguities in the definitions and terms are described which illustrate the importance of the ongoing revision of the International Vocabulary of Basic and General Terms in Metrology (VIM).The revision of VIM is of primary importance for good understanding within and between measurement communities worldwide, including laboratory medicine.