Interlaboratory survey on thallium in urine.

Quality assurance of analytic results was legalized in the Federal Republic of Germany by the law regulating the calibration of measuring devices of July 11, 1969, and the ordinance concerning the exception from compulsory calibration dated June 29, 1970. Accordingly, in the field of health care the Guidelines of the Medical Society of West Germany for the realization of quality assurance activities have to be followed. Since January 1, 1974, the law regulating the calibration of measuring devices has been fully effective. In the field of legal medicine the clinico-toxicologic analysis is considered to be a part of health care. As far as quantitative determinations are considered, these analyses have to follow the regulations mentioned above. To fulfil the basic program, adequate control samples are necessary. For toxicologic analysis there have been no control samples so far. Therefore, a control sample for thallium has been developed which can be used for long- and short-term interlaboratory surveys. The results are reported.