Measurement uncertainty—Surveys about customers' knowledge, reactions and needs

During discussions early in 2000, representatives of accredited analytical laboratories expressed concern about what the customers' reactions might be when the new requirements for evaluating and reporting uncertainty are implemented. In collaboration with accreditation bodies, authorities, laboratories and interest organisations, a two-page leaflet was produced. It was intended to be used by testing laboratories as information, e.g. together with the test report. To gain further insight into customers' views on measurement uncertainty, two surveys were conducted among some 1,200 Swedish customers. The result shows that the majority of them need and value uncertainty statements in the test report.