Academic Journal

The distinction between systematic and random measurement errors depends on context and perspective.

Λεπτομέρειες βιβλιογραφικής εγγραφής
Τίτλος: The distinction between systematic and random measurement errors depends on context and perspective.
Συγγραφείς: Johansen JV; Radiometer Medical ApS, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: jesper.johansen@radiometer.dk., Theodorsson E; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Πηγή: Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry [Clin Chim Acta] 2026 Sep 15; Vol. 591, pp. 121148. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 05.
Τύπος έκδοσης: Journal Article
Γλώσσα: English
Στοιχεία περιοδικού: Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 1302422 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1873-3492 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00098981 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Clin Chim Acta Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Amsterdam, Elsevier.
Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): Uncertainty*, Bias
Περίληψη: Measurement errors may be constant, change in predictable, systematic ways, or vary randomly and unpredictably. When discussing measurement errors, the distinction between systematic and random errors is often poorly characterized. Both systematic and random errors can occur at any stage of the testing process. Errors that occur during the measurement phase can be formally evaluated and quantified, for example, using CLSI evaluation protocol guidelines. Here, we assert that the assignment of measurement error labels, random and systematic, depends on the perspective of the observer and the availability of information. Random errors are usually quantified as imprecision or measurement uncertainty (MU), whereas systematic errors that remain approximately constant over time are quantified as biases. As more information becomes available, errors that were previously perceived as random may become predictable and thus considered systematic. Manufacturers/developers, users, and regulators of measurement procedures (MP) can have very different perspectives, including different levels of available knowledge, and these differences can affect perceptions of which errors are predictable. Therefore, whenever a bias is reported or discussed, its scope must be clearly stated. Similarly, whenever an imprecision or an uncertainty is stated, the sources of variation included in the estimate must also be detailed. Determining whether a source of error is systematic or random in each scenario ensures it can be meaningfully quantified and expressed.
(Copyright © 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Bias; Imprecision; Random error; Systematic error; Total error; Uncertainty
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260606 Date Completed: 20260811 Latest Revision: 20260812
Update Code: 20260813
DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2026.121148
PMID: 42250674
Βάση Δεδομένων: MEDLINE
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2026.121148?
    Name: ScienceDirect (all content) (s7799221)
    Category: fullText
    Text: View record from ScienceDirect
    MouseOverText: View record from ScienceDirect
  – Url: https://resolver.ebsco.com/c/fiv2js/result?sid=EBSCO:cmedm&genre=article&issn=18733492&ISBN=&volume=591&issue=&date=20260915&spage=121148&pages=121148&title=Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry&atitle=The%20distinction%20between%20systematic%20and%20random%20measurement%20errors%20depends%20on%20context%20and%20perspective.&aulast=Johansen%20JV&id=DOI:10.1016/j.cca.2026.121148
    Name: Full Text Finder (for New FTF UI) (ns324271)
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text Finder
    MouseOverText: Full Text Finder
Header DbId: cmedm
DbLabel: MEDLINE
An: 42250674
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The distinction between systematic and random measurement errors depends on context and perspective.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Johansen+JV%22">Johansen JV</searchLink>; Radiometer Medical ApS, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: jesper.johansen@radiometer.dk.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Theodorsson+E%22">Theodorsson E</searchLink>; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%221302422%22">Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry</searchLink> [Clin Chim Acta] 2026 Sep 15; Vol. 591, pp. 121148. <i>Date of Electronic Publication: </i>2026 Jun 05.
– Name: TypePub
  Label: Publication Type
  Group: TypPub
  Data: Journal Article
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Journal Info
  Group: Src
  Data: <i>Publisher: </i><searchLink fieldCode="PB" term="%22Elsevier%22">Elsevier </searchLink><i>Country of Publication: </i>Netherlands <i>NLM ID: </i>1302422 <i>Publication Model: </i>Print-Electronic <i>Cited Medium: </i>Internet <i>ISSN: </i>1873-3492 (Electronic) <i>Linking ISSN: </i><searchLink fieldCode="IS" term="%2200098981%22">00098981 </searchLink><i>NLM ISO Abbreviation: </i>Clin Chim Acta <i>Subsets: </i>MEDLINE
– Name: PublisherInfo
  Label: Imprint Name(s)
  Group: PubInfo
  Data: <i>Original Publication</i>: Amsterdam, Elsevier.
– Name: SubjectMESH
  Label: MeSH Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Uncertainty%22">Uncertainty*</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Bias%22">Bias</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Measurement errors may be constant, change in predictable, systematic ways, or vary randomly and unpredictably. When discussing measurement errors, the distinction between systematic and random errors is often poorly characterized. Both systematic and random errors can occur at any stage of the testing process. Errors that occur during the measurement phase can be formally evaluated and quantified, for example, using CLSI evaluation protocol guidelines. Here, we assert that the assignment of measurement error labels, random and systematic, depends on the perspective of the observer and the availability of information. Random errors are usually quantified as imprecision or measurement uncertainty (MU), whereas systematic errors that remain approximately constant over time are quantified as biases. As more information becomes available, errors that were previously perceived as random may become predictable and thus considered systematic. Manufacturers/developers, users, and regulators of measurement procedures (MP) can have very different perspectives, including different levels of available knowledge, and these differences can affect perceptions of which errors are predictable. Therefore, whenever a bias is reported or discussed, its scope must be clearly stated. Similarly, whenever an imprecision or an uncertainty is stated, the sources of variation included in the estimate must also be detailed. Determining whether a source of error is systematic or random in each scenario ensures it can be meaningfully quantified and expressed.<br /> (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
– Name: SubjectMinor
  Label: Contributed Indexing
  Group:
  Data: <i>Keywords: </i>Bias; Imprecision; Random error; Systematic error; Total error; Uncertainty
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date(s)
  Group: Date
  Data: <i>Date Created: </i>20260606 <i>Date Completed: </i>20260811 <i>Latest Revision: </i>20260812
– Name: DateUpdate
  Label: Update Code
  Group: Date
  Data: 20260813
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1016/j.cca.2026.121148
– Name: AN
  Label: PMID
  Group: ID
  Data: 42250674
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=cmedm&AN=42250674
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.cca.2026.121148
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        StartPage: 121148
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Bias
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Uncertainty
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The distinction between systematic and random measurement errors depends on context and perspective.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Johansen JV
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Theodorsson E
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 15
              M: 09
              Text: 2026 Sep 15
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1873-3492
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 591
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry
              Type: main
ResultId 1