Limit of detection

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-015781",
  "term": "Limit of detection",
  "field": "Environment",
  "term_source": "Limit of Detection",
  "definition": "1. The minimum concentration of a substance being analyzed test that has a 99 percent probability of being identified.\n\n2. The LOD is the lowest concentration of a pesticide residue or contaminant that can be identified and quantitatively measured in a specified food, agricultural commodity, or animal feed with an acceptable degree of certainty by a regulatory method of analysis. The LOD is considered synonymous with the limit of quantitation/quantification.\n\n3. The minimum concentration of an analyte that can be identified, measured, and reported with 99% confidence that the analyte concentration is greater than zero. {ORD} {OPP} {OAR/OAQPS} {OECA}\n\n4. The minimum concentration of an analyte that can be identified, measured, and reported with 99% confidence that the analyte concentration is greater than zero.\n\n5. The LOD and LOQ concentrations are calculated by applying the compound’s calibration curve to the noise response of a sample to obtain a value which is then multiplied by a factor of 3 for LOD (3 times of noise) and 10 for LOQ (10 times of noise). The responses of the analytes are not considered in this approach. Only the noise level is included in the calculation. In some cases, the concentration of the lowest calibration standard is treated as the LOQ. The LOD is not defined in this case, although the LOD is often assumed to be 1/3 of the LOQ. The lowest possible LOD and LOQ values are not critical in these cases. The rationale of this approach is that the expected analyte concentrations in the samples are high and above the lowest calibration concentration and knowledge of the actual LOD/LOA is not necessary.\n\n6. Minimum amount of analyte that can be detected reliably and distinguished from a known and characterized background with a given level of confidence; LODs establish a baseline detection value for optimal conditions.",
  "abbreviation": "LOD",
  "subject": "Measurements",
  "references": [
    "Terms of Environment; EPA 2005b; Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment",
    "FAO/WHO 1997; Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment",
    "Forum on Environmental Measurements (FEM) Glossary",
    "EPA Office of Research and Development; Forum on Environmental Measurements (FEM) Glossary",
    "FEM Document Number 2012-01; Environmental Sampling and Analytical Methods (ESAM) Program Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/limit-of-detection/"
}