The natural matrix reference material database of the International Atomic Energy Agency: Reference materials in support of dietary investigations

Certified reference materials (CRMs) are the recognized tools to make the results of analytical measurements comparable and traceable to international standards. The use of CRMs in quality control and quality assurance of analytical determinations and in development of newer analytical methodologies is widely recognized. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) maintains a database on internationally available CRMs of natural matrices. This database is periodically updated, and presently documents about 2700 reference materials. Several food and clinical natural matrix materials certified for nutritionally essential substances are included. The IAEA database serves as a useful indicator of the status of current developments in natural matrix CRMs in this field. This article provides an account of the available data on natural matrix reference materials related to diet and create an awareness among the prospective end-users to enable the wider adaptation of these CRMs for validation purposes.