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Published: 08/04/2010
(Fireflysci.com: Farmingdale, NY) -- For several decades, spectrophotometry has been used in microbiology, clinical chemistry, the pharmaceutical industry, and other research applications.
Periodic verification of the performance of spectrophotometers is required by ISO 9001, good laboratory practice (GLP), good manufacturing practice (GMP), standard operating procedures (SOP) in the pharmaceutical industry, EP, DAB, USP (pharmacopeias), and other applicable standards and regulations.
Periodic verification of performance of spectrophotometers typically includes testing the resolution, wavelength accuracy, photometric accuracy, and stray-light affect. Traditionally, the calibration of spectrophotometers has been performed with a combination of liquid filters and solid-state filters. The solid-state filters only allowed the checking of photometric accuracy and wavelength accuracy usually within the 450 nm – 630 nm range. The liquid filters allow checking the photometric accuracy, wavelength accuracy, stray-light affect, and photometric resolution usually within the 200 nm – 660 nm range.
Liquid and solid-state filters are calibrated by the filter manufacturers, and the corresponding filters’ performance certificates are supplied to customers.
Solid-state filters maintain their performance for many years when handled properly. However, the performance of liquid filters degrades more quickly due to so-called slow irreversible chemical reactions, photonic-promoted chemical reactions, and other reasons. Therefore, manufacturers of liquid calibration standards require their customers to replace their liquid filters every one to three years.
Recent developments in nanotechnology have allowed Fireflysci to develop state-of-the-art solid-state quantum resonance calibration filters. The purpose of these new reference standards is to replace the old fashioned liquid-based filters so that customers can benefit from substantial savings on filter replacements and recalibrations.
Benefits of using Fireflysci’s nano-deposition calibration standards are obvious. No more having to replace or recalibrate your standards. They are easy to handle and are very robust due to the scratch resistant coatings. They give highly accurate and consistent calibration every time.
Fireflysci’s calibration standards fit into any spectrophotometer so you don’t have to worry if they will work in your equipment. The nano-deposition standards are NIST-traceable and can test and calibrate photometric accuracy, wavelength accuracy, photometric resolution, and stray-light affect.
Wavelength accuracy is achieved through calibrating the peaks of several wavelengths in the UV, visible, and (where applicable) IR spectra. Traditionally, the holmium oxide and didymium glass filters offer weaker peaks in comparison to the holmium oxide-liquid filters. A similar effect can be observed with the didymium glass filters.
Fireflysci’s proprietary nano-deposition and nano-embedded technology overcome the disadvantages of using solid-state filters, making them better than the current liquid-based filters. Moreover, the number of peaks for calibration produced by Fireflysci’s composite medium is quantum-harmonics-based; therefore the quality of achieved calibration of spectrophotometers is assured by fundamental principles of physics of harmonic wavelength relations. This method is by far superior to asymmetric wavelength peaks produced by a liquid medium.
The future of spectrophotometer calibration is clearly moving toward a more long-term, easier solution.