Definitions for "Detection Limit"
A calculated value, the level at which a particular piece of analytical instrument can detect the presence of a specific compound above the background noise of the instrument detector. For dioxin/furan analysis, this value is determined by the signal to noise ratio which must be a minimum of 2.5.
minimum concentration of a contaminant that can be determined.
The minimum concentration of a substance that can be identified, measured, and reported within 99 percent confidence that the analyte concentration is greater than zero; determined from analysis of a sample in a given matrix containing the analyte.
The range (limits) of detection of any test methodology, e.g. C. trachomatis amplification test needs only 1-10 organisms to be presented in order to detect CT, whereas an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) needs 100,000 (105) organisms to be present in order to detect CT.
the value below which measurement or detection of a chemical is not possible. Laboratories report pollutants not detected as being below detection limits.
a figure of merit for a detector or measurement instrument or process
practically defined as the point where the signal level decreases to less than two to three times the noise level.