A blank value in
analytical chemistry
Analytical chemistry studies and uses instruments and methods to separate, identify, and quantify matter. In practice, separation, identification or quantification may constitute the entire analysis or be combined with another method. Separati ...
is a measurement of a
blank. The reading does not originate from a sample, but the
matrix effect
In chemical analysis, matrix refers to the components of a sample other than the analyte of interest. The matrix can have a considerable effect on the way the analysis is conducted and the quality of the results are obtained; such effects are calle ...
s,
reagent
In chemistry, a reagent ( ) or analytical reagent is a substance or compound added to a system to cause a chemical reaction, or test if one occurs. The terms ''reactant'' and ''reagent'' are often used interchangeably, but reactant specifies a ...
s and other
residues. These contribute to the sample value in the analytical measurement and therefore have to be subtracted.
The limit of blank is defined by the Clinical And Laboratory Standards Institute as the highest apparent analyte concentration expected to be found when replicates of a sample containing no analyte are tested.
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See also
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Blank (solution)
References
Analytical chemistry
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