Section 8: Optional Further Studies

As part of the FIRI program, it was recognized that providing samples in sufficient quantity for laboratory procedures is close to ideal and does not represent “typical” conditions. Therefore, laboratories were asked to consider 2 optional studies: investigating the effects of sample size on results and achieving high precision. The sample size study was focused on Sample E, humic acid, which had been chosen because of the rigorous pretreatment it had undergone in the solution stage, and which would ensure sample homogeneity. The precision study was focused on Sample D, the Belfast dendro-dated wood sample, given its importance in the master calibration.