by
BHolmes » Thu Jun 27, 2013 4:14 pm
Peter -
thank you for sharing your expertise and knowledge in analytical chemistry, its great to have a forum where I can discuss these topics with other analytical chemists, or biologists
Afterall, isn't that what science is all about? Collaborating with fellow scientists to discover new ways of doing things? Sadly my lab doesn't foster this kind of collaboration, everyone has their way of doing things and if you try to step in with a suggestion or idea they get defensive and shut you out. Arghhh
so frustrating!! I knew that office politics existed, but I guess i hoped science labs would be immune to such antics.
both R&D and QC labs need results that are fit for purpose, no difference at all there
I agree with you completely on this statement, "fit for purpose" is what I need to keep in mind when developing/improving upon analytical methods. In school it was all about how good can the method be, wheras in the real world to acheive such standards may be too expensive and use too many resources (time, personnel, equipment, etc...).
different operators, reagents, room temperature, humidity (to name a few) can have a tremendous effect on the outcome True, but if a method is properly calibrated each time that it is applied then these extraneous influences will fall away, or be shown explicitely to render the results invalid
I with you agree 100%, just so lond as the method is properly documented - as you stated:
is properly documented, uses equipment whose performance is validated, is carried out by appropriately trained and experienced people, etc etc.
I only wish this sentiment was carried by all who work in science, but alas it is not so - I find it especially so with those who have been in the same position with minimal change for a long time.
Thanks again, this discussion has been useful for me and I really appreciate you all taking time to respond.
I want to leave you all with a link to a webinar I recently watched and found it to be very insightful, I couldn't give a direct link but if you use the link below and search for Steven Lehotay's webinar titled "What is Good Enough?" (located about 2/3 down page) I highly recommend watching it!
http://www.agrodiv.org/2012-2013-agro-webinar-series/