DIN 38402-60:2026-09

The results of water analyses provide the basis for numerous decisions in the spheres of health and environmental protection. The reliability of such results plays a significant role. As part of its quality management system every laboratory shall thus establish a quality assurance system that includes both the use of internal quality assurance tools (such as method validation and the use of control charts) and external quality assurance measures (such as participation in proficiency testing). This document specifies the quality assurance methods to be applied in the introduction and routine performance of chemical and physicochemical analytical procedures in water analysis. Compared to the DIN 38402-60:2013-12 standard, the content of the present standard has been revised and updated in accordance with the standards cited. Its structure has been reorganized. A new clause "Traceability" has been added; the clause "Calibration using internal standards" provides more detailed information on its use with GC-MS and LC-MS technologies; a simplified procedure for determining measurement uncertainty is described for verifying the limit of determination; and Annex A contains new examples for verifying the limit of determination. The clauses "Long-term changes in analytical quality", subclause "Review of the last 60 data points", "Quality assurance for excessively long, rare, or sporadic analyses", and Annex B "Simplified test for normal distribution" have been deleted. This document has been prepared by Working Group NA 119-09-06-01 AK "Analytische Qualitätssicherung für die chemische und physikalisch-chemische Wasseruntersuchung" ("Analytical quality assurance for chemical and physico-chemical water analysis") of Working Committee NA 119-09-06 AA "Qualitätssicherung" ("Quality assurance") in NA 119-09 FB Section "Wasseruntersuchung (CEN/TC 230, ISO/TC 147)" ("Water quality (CEN/TC 230, ISO/TC 147)") at DIN Standards Committee Water Practice (NAW).