Metals and Trace Elements
- Two proficiency testing items on different concentration levels
- 250 mL per proficiency testing item; (cooperation partner UBA, real water samples: additionally 100 mL for Hg per sample)
- Natural samples: one ground water sample, one surface water sample (partly fortified)
Details: UBA and Annual Programme 2026
- Synthetic samples (IFA): Concentration range: µg/L-level, more details can be found here.
- The specified standard deviations for proficiency assessment (z-score-criteria in %) and lower limits apply to synthetic samples in the year 2026
and are calculated from interlaboratory comparisons 2015-2025.
The standard deviations are recalculated and updated at regular intervals.
| Parameter |
standard deviation for proficiency assessment
based on the assigned value |
Lower limit |
|---|
| Aluminium |
7.5 % |
7.5 µg/L |
| Antimony 2) |
7.9 % |
0.15 µg/L |
| Arsenic |
6.5 % |
0.5 µg/L |
| Barium 2) |
4.2 % |
12 µg/L |
| Beryllium 1) |
9.1 % |
0.1 µg/L |
| Cadmium |
4.8 % |
0.1 µg/L |
| Cerium 1) |
6.0 % |
0.25 µg/L |
| Chromium |
5.9 % |
0.5 µg/L |
| Cobalt 1) |
6.2 % |
0.25 µg/L |
| Copper |
7.1 % |
1.0 µg/L |
| Gadolinium 1) |
10.5 % |
0.05 µg/L |
| Iron |
6.2 % |
10 µg/L |
| Lead |
6.4 % |
0.3 µg/L |
| Lithium 1) |
7.3 % |
1.5 µg/L |
| Manganese |
5.0 % |
2.0 µg/L |
| Mercury 2) 3) |
10.4 % |
0.2 µg/L |
| Molybdenum 2) |
6.1 % |
0.4 µg/L |
| Nickel |
6.3 % |
0.75 µg/L |
| Selenium |
8.5 % |
0.45 µg/L |
| Silver 1) |
8.6 % |
0.05 µg/L |
| Strontium 2) |
3.9 % |
41 µg/L |
| Tin 2) |
6.9 % |
0.5 µg/L |
| Uranium |
5.4 % |
0.35 µg/L |
| Vanadium 1) |
7.4 % |
0.3 µg/L |
| Zinc |
6.2 % |
3 µg/L |
1) extended parameter scope (E1) round M182: Ag, Ce, Co, Li, V as well as Be and Gd
2) extended parameter scope (E2) round M184: Ba, Mo, Sb, Sn und Sr; Attention: This round does NOT include Hg 3) !
3) Hg is included in all rounds except M184.
| Proficiency testing round |
Registration deadline |
Dispatch |
Organisation |
Proficiency testing item |
Additional |
Closing date |
| M180 |
20.01.2026 *) |
03.02.2026 |
UBA |
natural |
|
03.03.2026 |
| M181 |
02.03.2026 *) |
16.03.2026 |
IFA |
synthetic |
|
17.04.2026 |
| M182 |
25.05.2026 *) |
08.06.2026 |
IFA |
synthetic |
E1 1) |
03.07.2026 |
| M183 |
24.08.2026 *) |
07.09.2026 |
IFA |
synthetic |
|
02.10.2026 |
| M184 |
02.11.2026 *) |
16.11.2026 |
IFA |
synthetic |
E2 2) |
11.12.2026 |
*) Registration after the registration deadline: on request
- Contact IFA:
Uta Kachelmeier, Ing.
Phone: +43(0) 1 47654 97306
- Contact UBA:
Martha Schmid, MSc.
Phone: +43(0) 1 31304 4334