About IMEKO TC8

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The Technical Committee 8 (TC8) "Traceability in Metrology" of IMEKO was established in 1972. The aim of TC8  is to provide a forum for an international interchange of opinions among experts in the relevant field. The TC8 organizes international scientific events such as symposia, workshops, round table sessions and activities on traceability, calibration procedures, intercomparisons, uncertainty evaluation and other related quantities in close cooperation with the international legal metrology organizations, in order:
a) to share knowledge and experience which could permit to achieve comparability and compatibility among the measurements and calibrations carried out in all the world;
b) to develop projects among groups from different countries, and to support measurements and calibrations for mutual recognition between National Metrology Institutes (MRA) or Accreditation Bodies;
c) to homogenize criteria, procedures and uncertainty evaluation to facilitate technical information exchange.  

The main fields of interests are:

Basic terms and definitions related to traceability

• main parameters of a measuring device,
• model of the dissemination process,
• traceability level.

Evaluation of measurement results

• uncertainty in calibration schemes,
• compatibility of measurement results,
• conformity of measurement results to specifications.

Traceability requirements for national metrology institutes

• realization of measurement units, establishment and maintenance of national standards,
• degree of equivalence of national standards, setting up consensus measurement standards,
• support to MRA and MLA.

Statement and evaluation of traceability

• calibration and testing laboratories, on site calibrations and tests,
• dynamic quantities, extreme measurement conditions,
• recalibration interval and cost minimization.

Evaluation of the results obtained in interlaboratory comparisons

• bilateral and multilateral, carried out at national, regional and international level,
• involving BIPM and/or national metrology institutes,
• involving calibration or testing laboratories. 

New fields and needs for traceability

• computer-based instrumentation, automatic test and calibration systems,
• characterization of new materials,
• nanotechnology nanometrology,
• chemistry.

Traceability to support ...

• ... Environment: clean air, soil, water, meteorology, climate change,
• ... Health care: treatment of patients, diagnostic markers, pharmaceuticals, testing & insurance costs,
• ... Safety,
• ... Food analysis: food safety testing, food trade,
• ... Anti-doping: fair sports, healthy sportsmen, sports income, 
• ... Standardization activities,
• ... Accreditation processes: ILAC Arrangements, e.g. based on ISO 17025, ISO 15189, WADA,
• ... Regulations: EU Directives, US legislation, other national regulations,
• ... Trade agreements: EU –other nations, Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO TBT).