RM (Reference material) / CRM (Certified reference material)

Reference Material (RM) : A Reference Material is material, sufficiently homogeneous and stable with respect to one or more specified property values, which has been established to be for its intended use in a measurement process. Reference materials may be used in the calibration of measurement systems, assessment of measurement procedures, assigning values to other materials, and quality control.

Certified Reference Material (CRM) : A Certified Reference Material is reference material characterized by a metrologically valid procedure for one or more specified properties, accompanied by a reference material certificate that provides the value of the specified property, its associated uncertainty, and a statement of metrological traceability.

Metrological traceability : Metrological traceability is a property of a measurement result that refers to the ability to relate the result to a reference through a documented, unbroken chain of calibrations. This means that the measurement result can be traced back to a known standard, such as a national or international standard, with a high degree of confidence and accuracy.