Attention: The PT round has been postponed
and will take place at a later date.
Our interlaboratory trial 2023 “Hormonal Effects” is tailored for effect-based in vitro bioassays for the determination of hormonal activity in water and food samples.
Accredited testing laboratories may use the results to meet the requirements of ISO 17025:2018 in that they have participated in an appropriate interlaboratory comparison program as part of their external quality assurance. For non-accredited laboratories, this interlaboratory study enables the assessment of their testing performance in comparison with other laboratories.
All procedures in the interlaboratory trial are in accordance with the requirements of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17043:2010.
Target groups
- Accredited Laboratories using effect-based bioassays for the determination of hormonal activity in water and food
- Public and regulatory laboratories using effect-based bioassays to assess the quality of environmental water bodies within the scope of the WFD
- All laboratories including universities and R&D facilities which intend to implement external quality assurance measures within their measurement programs
Time
The interlaboratory trial “Hormonal Effects” will take place in autumn 2023.
Information on the samples
Three sets of samples are provided within this interlaboratory trial.
One set for the determination of estrogenicity, one set for the determination of androgenicity, and one set for the determination of progestagenicity.
Samples for the determination of estrogenicity
- Sample E1: Water for human consumption spiked with an estrogen, final concentration 0.2 – 0.5 ng EEQ* in 1 liter
- Sample E2: Artificial surface water spiked with a mix of estrogens, final concentration 1 – 10 ng EEQ* in 1 liter
- Sample E3: Liquid extract from food, spiked with estrogen disruptors, final concentration ca. 20 ng EEQ* in 1 liter
Samples for the determination of androgenicity1
- Sample A1: Artificial surface water spiked with a mix of androgens, final concentration ca. 50 ng DHTEQ* in 1 liter
- Sample A2: Liquid extract from food, spiked with androgen disruptors, final concentration ca. 50 ng DHTEQ* in 1 liter
Samples for the determination of progestagenicity1
- Sample P1: Artificial surface water spiked with a mix of gestagens, final concentration ca. 50 ng PEQ* in 1 liter
- Sample P2: Liquid extract from food, spiked with gestagen disruptors, final concentration ca. 50 ng PEQ* in 1 liter
* Expected hormonal equivalent concentration refers to the assessment with common effect-based yeast assays.
1 We reserve the right not to include samples in the interlaboratory trial if the minimum number of required participants for the respective samples is not reached!
Water samples are provided as concentrates and have to be diluted by the laboratory to the final volume of 1 liter. The laboratory decides if an enrichment procedure should be applied, e.g., SPE.
Food samples are provided as extracts in organic solvent. The laboratory has to evaporate the solvent with an appropriate method. The dried extract has to be dissolved in a biocompatible solvent according to the laboratory’s method.