title: Blank Correction in Isotope Dilution.
abstract: A novel method for compensation of the procedural blank in isotope dilution is presented. This method, entitled "blank-matching", copes with the blank through experimental design. Both sample and calibration solutions are exposed to the same amount of isotopic standard and same procedural blank. The identical treatment of sample and calibrators eliminates the need for subtracting the procedural blank from the result obtained by isotope dilution. A further advantage of the method is that quantitation of the analyte in the procedural blank is not required. Blank-matching is simple and fast to implement, and it permits direct determination of results without further corrections. This aspect has an important metrological outcome: blank-matching isotope dilution can be considered a primary method of analysis that does not involve the procedural blank as a potential source of bias.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Canada , 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.
authors.forename: Enea
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pagliano
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Canada , 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mester
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Canada , 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.
authors.forename: Juris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meija