= Procedural blank
A <procedural blank> is an <analytical blank> carried through the complete stated measurement procedure. It is designed to reveal contributions associated with preparation and handling, rather than only the response of the final solvent or instrument. Its scope depends on the procedure being tested.<Blank material in the IUPAC Gold Book>[08010, note4, procedure/procedural blank]{ref}<Process blank in the NIST OSAC Lexicon>[Definition; labware, reagent and solvent contributions]{ref}
An invented example illustrates this coverage. A solvent read directly gives1 response unit, but an otherwise comparable blank taken through the containers, preparation and final measurement gives4 units. The extra3 units indicate a contribution associated with the expanded procedure. They do not identify which individual step caused it. Testing intermediate blanks could help localize the contribution while preserving the distinction between a component check and a complete <procedural blank>.
A <procedural blank> is also different from a sample containing a known added quantity of <analyte>. A process can have a small blank response yet lose much of the <analyte> during preparation. Conversely, a detectable blank contribution need not mean that every sample response is unusable. Interpretation requires the measured <blank indication>, its variability, the sample level and the stated <blank correction> model.
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