Traceability
Updated 2026-10-27
Data records
- Metrological traceability is the property of a measurement result by which the result can be related to a stated reference, usually a national realization of an SI unit, through a documented and unbroken chain of calibrations, each of which contributes to the measurement uncertainty. A calibration certificate for a test instrument names the reference standards used so that the chain can be followed.
- The NIST policy on metrological traceability takes its definition from the international vocabulary of metrology: a measurement result is traceable when it can be tied to a reference by a documented chain of calibrations with no break in it, every link of which adds to the measurement uncertainty. The policy makes the provider of a result responsible for supporting any claim of traceability and the user of the result responsible for judging that claim, and it states that traceability by itself does not guarantee that a result is fit for a given purpose.
Sources
- Electrical Testing Reference editorial taxonomy, Electrical Testing Reference editorial taxonomy of test methods, 2026-10 edition, Electrical Testing Reference. Held as: Own observation.
- NIST Policy on Metrological Traceability, NIST Policy on Metrological Traceability, web page edition, NIST. Held as: Government work. Publisher page
Changelog (5 entries)
| Date | Revision | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-27 | created (gloss.traceability.definition) | |
| 2026-10-27 | review_status unreviewed -> software_reviewed (gloss.traceability.definition) | |
| 2026-10-27 | created (gloss.traceability.usage) | |
| 2026-10-27 | revised (gloss.traceability.usage) | |
| 2026-10-27 | review_status unreviewed -> software_reviewed (gloss.traceability.usage) |
Cite this page
Cite the governing standard for the fact itself; cite this page as the finding aid.
"Traceability." Test Instrument Reference. 2026-10-27. https://www.testinstrumentreference.com/glossary/traceability/.
Test Instrument Reference, Traceability (Oct. 27, 2026), https://www.testinstrumentreference.com/glossary/traceability/.
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organization = {Test Instrument Reference},
publisher = {Test Instrument Reference},
year = {2026},
note = {last substantive change 2026-10-27}
}{{cite web |title=Traceability |website=Test Instrument Reference |publisher=Test Instrument Reference |url=https://www.testinstrumentreference.com/glossary/traceability/ |date=2026-10-27 |access-date=}}