Blank correction

That all four methods give a different result for the concentration of analyte underscores the importance of choosing a proper blank but does not tell us which of the methods is correct. In fact, the variation within each method for the reported concentration of analyte indicates that none of these four methods has adequately corrected for the blank. Since the three samples were drawn from the same source, they must have the same true concentration of analyte. Since all four methods predict concentrations of analyte that are dependent on the size of the sample, we can conclude that none of these blank corrections has accounted for an underlying constant source of determinate error. 

A reagent blank corrects the measured signal for signals due to reagents other than the sample that are used in an analysis. The most common reagent blank is prepared by omitting the sample. When a simple reagent blank does not compensate for all constant sources of determinate error, other types of blanks, such as the total Youden blank, can be used. 

A reagent blank corrects the measured signal for signals dyi reagents other than the sample that are used in he... 

Next let us consider the light scattered by liquids of low molecular weight compounds. We are actually not directly interested in this quantity per se, but in scattering by solutions-polymer solutions eventually, but for now solutions of small solute molecules. The solvent in such a solution does scatter, but, in practice, the intensity of light scattered by pure solvent is measured and subtracted as a blank correction from the scattering by the solution. 

Blanking Schemes. Whereas most clinical assays rely on the specificity of the assay reaction to avoid interferences that would require a blank correction, certain ubiquitous interferences, eg, lipemic turbidity, hemoglobin in hemoly2ed sera, bilinibin [635-65-4] in icteric specimens,... 

Blank-corrected Data that have had trace contamination amounts (detected in a nonexposed sample) deducted from the total amount of contaminant detected in the sampling media. 

Running a blank determination. This consists in carrying out a separate determination, the sample being omitted, under exactly the same experimental conditions as are employed in the actual analysis of the sample. The object is to find out the effect of the impurities introduced through the reagents and vessels, or to determine the excess of standard solution necessary to establish the end-point under the conditions met with in the titration of the unknown sample. A large blank correction is undesirable, because the exact value then becomes uncertain and the precision of the analysis is reduced. 

Procedure. To determine the purity of a sample of boric acid, weigh accurately about 0.8 g of the acid, transfer quantitatively to a 250 mL graduated flask and make up to the mark. Pipette 25 mL of the solution into a 250 mL conical flask, add an equal volume of distilled water, 2.5-3 g of mannitol or sorbitol, and titrate with standard 0.1 M sodium hydroxide solution using phenolphthalein as indicator. It is advisable to check whether any blank correction must be made dissolve a similar weight of mannitol (sorbitol) in 50 mL of distilled water, add phenolphthalein, and ascertain how much sodium hydroxide solution must be added to produce the characteristic end point colour. 

M sulphuric acid at 25 °C is 1.43 0.05 volts. It can be used only in acid solution, best in 0.5M or higher concentrations as the solution is neutralised, cerium(IV) hydroxide [hydrated cerium(IV) oxide] or basic salts precipitate. The solution has an intense yellow colour, and in hot solutions which are not too dilute the end point may be detected without an indicator this procedure, however, necessitates the application of a blank correction, and it is therefore preferable to add a suitable indicator. 

Calibration functions corresponding to Eq. (2.22) are not generally transferable over long times and not from one laboratory to another. However in the case of blank-free or blank-corrected relations... 

A comparison of the blank corrected values before and after conjugation should give an indication of the percent of peptide coupled. To be more quantitative, a standard curve must be run to focus in on the linear response range of the peptide-Ellman s reaction. Using cysteine as a representative sulfhydryl compound (similar in Ellman s response to a peptide having one free sulfhydryl), it is possible to obtain very accurate determinations of the amount which coupled to the activated carrier. Figure 19.20, discussed previously in this section, shows the results of this type of assay. 

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