Frequently Asked Questions

No. TexEcoRM products are Reference Materials (RMs), not Certified Reference Materials (CRMs). We do not state a certified value with a measurement uncertainty as a CRM would. The values given in our documentation are indicative and are intended to support routine laboratory quality control, method verification and training.

No. TexEcoRM is not accredited at this time. We work in line with the key principles of ISO 17034 — standardized production, documented procedures, ongoing monitoring and clear documentation — and we evaluate our data according to ISO 13528. Because we are not accredited, we do not present our materials as certified, and we describe openly in each document what has and has not been done.

We do not issue CRM certificates. Every product is supplied with an RMIS/MDS (Reference Material Information Sheet / Material Data Sheet) for information. It contains the product description, intended use, storage guidance and the indicative value(s) — together with an explanation of how those values were obtained.

Where there are enough data, values are calculated according to ISO 13528 and other relevant standards. The RMIS/MDS states which approach was used and why, how many results the value is based on, whether they come from one laboratory or several, and whether measurements were repeated at different times (reproducibility). Our aim is that you can see exactly what the number is based on.

For some products the number of available results is limited — sometimes a single result, sometimes two or three. In these cases the value is given for information only, and the RMIS/MDS says so clearly. As more data become available, the documentation is updated.

Different laboratories can obtain different results for the same material, and even the same laboratory can see differences between, for example, a trial measurement and a later homogeneity check. Such differences usually reflect each laboratory’s own measurement uncertainty and method conditions. This is why our values are indicative and why each laboratory should evaluate the material within its own quality system.

Every batch is produced with the same standardized procedure. After production we check that the target concentrations have been reached and that the analytes are properly bound to the matrix (fabric, leather or polymer). Only materials that meet these checks are released.

We do not carry out a formal homogeneity study on every product. Instead, materials are measured on different days, in the same or in different laboratories; when these results agree closely, homogeneity is assumed in the calculation, and the RMIS/MDS states this. In addition, several proficiency testing and interlaboratory comparison providers use our materials regularly; as required by their own accreditation, they carry out homogeneity testing and have reported our materials to be homogeneous.

Carrying out full laboratory studies for every one of our many products would make them unaffordable for most laboratories — this is a deliberate choice that keeps real-matrix materials accessible. If your application requires a formal homogeneity study, it is performed by the user under their own quality system.

Once target concentrations and binding are confirmed, we re-check the material after about two weeks to one month, and for some analytes after three months. Most materials show no change, but for some the content needs time to settle — for example, formaldehyde typically reaches a stable value after around three months. Storage guidance is given in the RMIS/MDS.

Yes. We supply materials to proficiency testing and interlaboratory comparison providers. As part of their accreditation (ISO/IEC 17043), providers carry out their own homogeneity and stability assessment for the scheme. If you organise such schemes, our PT management software Zedmeter can compute the ISO 13528 scores and reports.

Typical uses are daily internal quality control (IQC), method verification, training and ongoing performance monitoring in restricted substances testing.

Our standard materials are generally supplied in 10 g packages; for certain tests 5 g or 20 g packages are also available. Volume discounts apply per product: 10% on 30 g, 25% on 60 g and 40% on 100 g or more of the same product. Prices are based on materials with one or two components; materials with three or more components are priced higher. See our Pricing Policy.

Yes — for textile, leather and plastic, at the concentrations and components you need, with a standard turnaround of approximately 4 weeks. See Custom-Made Reference Materials.

We usually ship via FedEx Express (or equivalent) and provide tracking after dispatch. Delivery times typically are: Europe 1–3 business days; outside Europe 4–7 business days, depending on destination and courier conditions.