Detection of Systematic Instrument and Personal Errors

Some systematic instrument errors can be found and corrected by calibration. Periodic calibration of equipment is always desirable because the response of most instruments changes with time as a result of component aging, corrosion, or mistreatment. Many systematic instrument errors involve interferences where a species present in the sample affects the response of the analyte.

Most personal errors can be minimized by careful, disciplined laboratory work. It is a good habit to check instrument readings, notebook entries, and calculations systematically. Errors due to limitations of the experimenter can usually be avoided by carefully choosing the analytical method or using an automated procedure.