New ASTM E691 2011 Edition, Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method

ASTM E691-11, “Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method,” has just been released.  This practice describes the techniques for planning, conducting, analyzing, and treating the results of an interlaboratory study (ILS) of a test method. The statistical techniques described in this practice provide adequate information for formulating the precision statement of a test method.

ASTM E691 does not concern itself with the development of test methods but rather with gathering the information needed for a test method precision statement after the development stage has been successfully completed. The data obtained in the interlaboratory study may indicate, however, that further effort is needed to improve the test method.

Since the primary purpose of this practice is the development of the information needed for a precision statement, the experimental design in this practice may not be optimum for evaluating materials, apparatus, or individual laboratories.

This practice is concerned exclusively with test methods which yield a single numerical figure as the test result, although the single figure may be the outcome of a calculation from a set of measurements.

ASTM regulations require precision statements in all test methods in terms of repeatability and reproducibility. This practice may be used in obtaining the needed information as simply as possible. This information may then be used to prepare a precision statement in accordance with ASTM E177, “Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods.”

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