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Photoluminescence techniques are amongst the most widely used tools in the material and life sciences, with new and exciting applications continuously emerging, due to their many advantages like comparative ease of use, unique sensitivity, non-invasive character, and potential for multiplexing, remote sensing, and miniaturization. Drawbacks are , however, signals, that contain unwanted wavelength- and polarization contributions from instrument-dependent effects, which are time-dependent due to the aging of instrument components, and difficulties to measure absolute fluorescence intensities. Thus, there is a considerable need for standards for intensity, spectral, and temporal fluorescence quantities to meet the increasing need for instrument performance validation and global trends to harmonize physicochemical measurements. In this respect, instrument calibration strategies together with different types of fluorescence standards are presented as well as design concepts for robust, easy-to-use, and format-adaptable fluorescence standards useable for the determination of different fluorescence parameters and a broad variety of fluorescence techniques.
In the second part of this two-part series on the state-of-the-art comparability of corrected emission spectra, we have extended this assessment to the broader community of fluorescence spectroscopists by involving 12 field laboratories that were randomly selected on the basis of their fluorescence measuring equipment. These laboratories performed a reference material (RM)-based fluorometer calibration with commercially available spectral fluorescence standards following a standard operating procedure that involved routine measurement conditions and the data evaluation software LINKCORR developed and provided by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM). This instrument-specific emission correction curve was subsequently used for the determination of the corrected emission spectra of three test dyes, X, QS, and Y, revealing an average accuracy of 6.8% for the corrected emission spectra. This compares well with the relative standard uncertainties of 4.2% for physical standard-based spectral corrections demonstrated in the first part of this study (previous paper in this issue) involving an international group of four expert laboratories. The excellent comparability of the measurements of the field laboratories also demonstrates the effectiveness of RM-based correction procedures.
The development of fluorescence applications in the life and material sciences has proceeded largely without sufficient concern for the measurement uncertainties related to the characterization of fluorescence instruments. In this first part of a two-part series on the state-of-the-art comparability of corrected emission spectra, four National Metrology Institutes active in high-precision steady-state fluorometry performed a first comparison of fluorescence measurement capabilities by evaluating physical transfer standard (PTS)-based and reference material (RM)-based calibration methods. To identify achievable comparability and sources of error in instrument calibration, the emission spectra of three test dyes in the wavelength region from 300 to 770 nm were corrected and compared using both calibration methods. The results, obtained for typical spectrofluorometric (0°/90° transmitting) and colorimetric (45°/0° front-face) measurement geometries, demonstrated a comparability of corrected emission spectra within a relative standard uncertainty of 4.2% for PTS- and 2.4% for RM-based spectral correction when measurements and calibrations were performed under identical conditions. Moreover, the emission spectra of RMs F001 to F005, certified by BAM, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, were confirmed. These RMs were subsequently used for the assessment of the comparability of RM-based corrected emission spectra of field laboratories using common commercial spectrofluorometers and routine measurement conditions in part 2 of this series (subsequent paper in this issue).
The commercial availability of stand-alone setups for the determination of absolute photoluminescence quantum yields (φf) in conjunction with the increasing use of integrating sphere accessories for spectrofluorometers is expected to have a considerable influence not only on the characterization of chromophore systems for use in optical and opto-electronic devices, but also on the determination of this key parameter for (bio)analytically relevant dyes and functional luminophores. Despite the huge potential of systems measuring absolute φf values and the renewed interest in dependable data, evaluated protocols for even the most elementary case, the determination of the fluorescence quantum yield of transparent dilute solutions of small organic dyes with integrating sphere methods, are still missing. This encouraged us to evaluate the performance and sources of uncertainty of a simple commercial integrating sphere setup with dilute solutions of two of the best characterized fluorescence quantum yield standards, quinine sulfate dihydrate and rhodamine 101, strongly differing in spectral overlap between absorption and emission. Special attention is dedicated to illustrate common pitfalls of this approach, thereby deriving simple procedures to minimize measurement uncertainties and improve the comparability of data for the broad community of users of fluorescence techniques.
Aimed at improving quality assurance and quantitation for modern fluorescence techniques, ASTM International (ASTM) is about to release a Standard Guide for Fluorescence, reviewed here. The guide's main focus is on steady state fluorometry, for which available standards and instrument characterization procedures are discussed along with their purpose, suitability, and general instructions for use. These include the most relevant instrument properties needing qualification, such as linearity and spectral responsivity of the detection system, spectral irradiance reaching the sample, wavelength accuracy, sensitivity or limit of detection for an analyte, and day-to-day performance verification. With proper consideration of method-inherent requirements and limitations, many of these procedures and standards can be adapted to other fluorescence techniques. In addition, procedures for the determination of other relevant fluorometric quantities including fluorescence quantum yields and fluorescence lifetimes are briefly introduced. The guide is a clear and concise reference geared for users of fluorescence instrumentation at all levels of experience and is intended to aid in the ongoing standardization of fluorescence measurements.
The need for standardization in fluorescence measurements to improve quality assurance and to meet regulatory demands is addressed from the viewpoint of National Metrology Institutes (NMIs). Classes of fluorescence standards are defined, including instrument calibration standards for the determination and correction of instrument bias, application-specific standards based on commonly used fluorescent labels, and instrument validation standards for periodic checks of instrument performance. The need for each class of standard is addressed and on-going efforts by NMIs and others are described. Several certified reference materials (CRMs) that have recently been developed by NMIs are highlighted. These include spectral correction standards, developed independently by both NIST and BAM (Germany), and fluorescence intensity standards for flow cytometry, developed by NIST. In addition, future activities at both institutes are addressed such as the development of day-to-day intensity standards.
Problems associated with the measurement of photoluminescence are briefly reviewed, including relevant instrument parameters affecting these measurements. Procedures for the characterization of relevant instruments are discussed, focusing on spectrofluorometers, and fit-for-purpose methods including suitable standards are recommended. The aim here is to increase the awareness of the importance of reliable instrument characterization and to improve the comparability of measurements of photoluminescence.
This report summarizes problems associated with the comparability of measurements of photoluminescence and procedures for the characterization of relevant instruments, focusing on physical and chemical fluorescence standards. To provide recommendations on selecting and using such standards, we derive general and scope-specific requirements and quality criteria for suitable devices and materials and briefly address metrological requirements linked to the realization of comparable measurements. Special emphasis is dedicated to liquid and solid chromophore-based fluorescence standards developed or currently tested by us.
With the Calibration Kit Spectral Fluorescence Standards BAM-F001BAM-F005, we developed a simple
tool for the characterization of the relative spectral responsivity and the long-term stability of the emission channel of
fluorescence instruments under routine measurement conditions thereby providing the basis for an improved comparability
of fluorescence measurements and eventually standardization. This first set of traceable fluorescence standards,
which links fluorescence measurements to the spectral radiance scale in the spectral range of 300770 nm and has been optimized for spectrofluorometers, can be employed for different measurement geometries and can be adapted to different fluorescence techniques with proper consideration of the underlying measurement principles.