Biometrics is a new field of science that has developed in recent years. The development of biometrics is to support the comparability, effectiveness and traceability of biometrics, and ultimately to make measurements traceable to the International System of Units. How to combine the measurement of science with the application of metrology science is an urgent and arduous task for metrology researchers, and it will be a very big challenge.

In October 1999, the 21st International Metrology Conference decided to put biometrics on the agenda. Subsequently, the Substance Advisory Committee (CCQM) established the Bioanalytical Working Group (BAWG), which held its first meeting in late 2000 and held four meetings in 2003. The main purpose of the working group is to establish biotechnology traceable measurement systems, with priority given to nucleic acid measurements, protein measurements and methods, standardization of analytical procedures, and the development of reference materials to consolidate applications in nucleic acid and protein measurement.

In recent years, developed countries have also increased their investment in biometrics. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the LGC Labs in the United Kingdom are leading the way in the field of nucleic acid and protein measurement, and have achieved some results in the quality assurance and measurement of biometrics. At present, CCQM has proposed five biometric comparisons with the support of laboratories in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The first comparison study began in 2003. During 2002 and 2003, the National Standards Research Center participated in two sessions of the Bioanalytical Working Group on behalf of the China National Metrology Laboratory and participated in the first biometric comparison work organized by CCQM. Comparison.

The measurement of biological systems (macromolecules, cell organs, cells, tissues) is complex. In terms of the current development of biotechnology, the following are the key points:

Genetic biometrics

Clinical gene assays, gene expression (plasmids), genetically modified transgenic components, transgenic pathogen standards (reference) materials, quality control reference standards and methods for biological plasmid formation processes, analysis of viral assays and reference materials, quantitative PCR assays, and the like.

Protein measurement clinical diagnosis, drug determination, biopharmaceutical treatment, protein analysis, etc.

Cell measurement cell measurement quality control, standards and methods, measurement in cell therapy, cytometry measurement of fluorescence standards, in vivo based testing (chemical toxins, biological products such as interferons) and the like.

Biomolecular measurement establishes an effective method for biomolecular measurement, production quality analysis methods for biomolecules, and quality control/quality analysis (QC/QA) for biomolecular measurement.

DNA measurement mainly includes basic sequence analysis and nucleic acid quantification, including sequence difference and length difference, real-time quantitative PCR, electric pulse separation, gel, capillary electrophoresis and other techniques.

In general, the challenges of biometrics are mainly reflected in: unit, extraction, measurement specificity, method variability, and conversion. Measurement specificity, method variability, and conversion have a significant impact on how to define traceability.

Biometrics in China will combine the objectives of national biotechnology development with the problems in biometrics to design and develop a structural framework for biometrics to support a rational approach to measuring traceability and comparability. (Source: China Metrology Network)