Tendências em validação de métodos de ensaios qualitativos

The growing importance of qualitative analysis and the need for reliable analytical results in order to support the decision making at various sectors of food chain are unquestionable, with impacts on the economy, public health and consumer rights. However, the validation of these methods has been a critical point in the quality management systems implementation, and also in the processes for laboratory accreditation. In spite of the existence of well-established protocols for the validation of quantitative methods, there is a gap in the development of approaches for the implementation of metrology in the qualitative analysis. In this context, this paper deals with the validation of qualitative methods, including definitions, experimental design, and analysis of results for evaluating the applicable performance parameters, such as false response rates, reliability, selectivity, sensitivity, detection limit, region of unreliability, accordance, concordance and robustness.