Agilent Inorganic Certified Reference Materials and Standards

Importance of Topic

Reliable inorganic certified reference materials (CRMs) are essential for accurate elemental analysis across environmental, food, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and cannabis testing laboratories. Agilent’s ISO 17025 and ISO 17034 accredited production and testing facilities ensure traceability, purity, and consistency. Utilizing high‐purity raw materials and validated methods improves data quality, reduces uncertainty, and accelerates method development and regulatory compliance.

Objectives and Study Overview

This whitepaper catalogs Agilent’s portfolio of single‐ and multi‐element inorganic CRMs, metallo‐organic standards, tuners, and application‐specific mixes. It aims to guide analysts in selecting appropriate standards for spectroscopy (AA, MP‐AES, ICP‐OES, ICP‐MS), UV‐Vis, ion chromatography, and graphite furnace applications. The compilation supports EPA, CLP, USP/ICH, and cannabis heavy metal methods, among others.

Methodology

Agilent CRMs are manufactured gravimetrically or analytically verified under ISO 9001, ISO 17025, and ISO 17034 systems. Uncertainties include homogeneity, stability, and analytical characterization. Traceability to NIST SRMs is maintained via high‐performance ICP‐OES protocols. Standards are shipped with Certificate of Analysis listing certified values and expanded uncertainties at 95% confidence.

Used Instrumentation

• Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AA) and Graphite Furnace AA
• Microwave‐Plasma AES (MP‐AES)
• Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP‐OES)
• Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP‐MS)
• Ultraviolet‐Visible (UV‐Vis) Spectrophotometry
• Ion Chromatography (IC)
• ISO 17025/17034 accredited production and QC laboratories

Main Results and Discussion

The catalog demonstrates over 4,000 CRMs covering single elements at µg/mL to 10,000 µg/mL, multi‐element mixes for wavelength calibration, quality control, and method‐specific kits (EPA 200.7/200.8/6010, CLP, USP/ICH Q3D, cannabis heavy metals). Metallo‐organic and biodiesel reference materials support wear-metal and sulfur analyses in hydrocarbon matrices. Comparative studies confirm equivalency between Agilent and leading OEM standards.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Streamlined method setup with application‐tailored kits
• Reduced uncertainty and regulatory risk through triple certification
• Enhanced lab productivity with fast shipping and global distribution
• Comprehensive coverage for routine and specialized analyses

Future Trends and Opportunities

Demand for lower detection limits and broader multi‐element coverage will grow as regulations tighten (e.g., emerging contaminants in water, stringent heavy metal limits in cannabis). Advances in high‐resolution ICP‐MS and digital QA/QC workflows will drive further innovation in CRM formulation and certification. Integration with laboratory informatics and AI‐driven analytics will enhance traceability and data integrity.

Conclusion

Agilent’s extensive certified reference material portfolio, backed by ISO accreditation and NIST traceability, provides reliable solutions for diverse analytical workflows. Application‐focused standards and kits enable rapid setup, consistent performance, and compliance with global methods, helping laboratories achieve accurate, defensible results.

Reference

Salit, M. et al. Anal. Chem. 2001, 73, 4821–4829.