Focus on Global Terminology

 This month’s terms:

• Accuracy (of measurement): closeness of the agreement between the result of a measurement and a true value of the measurand (VIM93)
• Trueness: closeness of agreement between the average value obtained from a large series of test results and an accepted reference value (ISO 3534-1).
  NOTE: 
  Accuracy refers to a single measurement and contains both random and systematic error. Trueness relates to the average value (mean, median etc.) of a series of measurements and reflects only the systematic error. One might refer to the accuracy of a result, but to the trueness of a measurement procedure. It is not correct to refer to the accuracy of a method.

For complete details on these and other internationally accepted terms, access NCCLS’s Harmonized Terminology Database.  In the database, find standard, internationally preferred terms and definitions, related terms, terms that are not acceptable in the international standards community, and illustrative notes and examples.

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