
















































































Calculation and Interpretation of Inter-laboratory Variation in Isotope Delta (δ) Values Using Real Interpretative Differences
							| Forensic Anthropology


	

		
				Main Navigation
	Main Content
	Sidebar


		

				

						
				
				
															
											
																						
				
					Current
									
							
	
				
					Archives
									
							
	
				
					Search
									
							
	
				
					Submit
									
							
	
				
					Subscribe
									
							
	
				
					Early View
									
							



					
						
										
										
						Toggle search
						
					
				
					
								
				
					Register
									
							
	
				
					Login
									
							



					
				

				
																	 						
  
    
  

  Search


					

								
			


			

				

										
						Toggle navigation
						
						
						
					

																
																								
								
							
																	

					
				


			

		

				
			
			
								

			
		
			
				Home
			
		
	
			
				Archives
			
		
	
			
				Vol. 4 No. 3 (2021)
			
		
	
							Research Articles
					



	
		

		
	
		
			Calculation and Interpretation of Inter-laboratory Variation in Isotope Delta (δ) Values Using Real Interpretative Differences
					

	

	

		

						Article Sidebar


						
										
																		
	
							
				


				
		
							Requires Subscription or Fee
					
	
	PDF

			
			(USD 25)
		
	
													
	
							
				


				
		
							Requires Subscription or Fee
					
	
	HTML

			
			(USD 25)
		
	
																													
	
							
				


				
		
							Requires Subscription or Fee
					
	
	Supplemental Information

	
															

			
			

													
												Published:
						Oct 20, 2021
					

																								
																																														
														DOI:
							
								https://doi.org/10.5744/fa.2020.0050
							
						

									
													
												Keywords:
						
							
																	forensic anthropology, 																	forensic science, 																	stable isotope ratio analysis, 																	accuracy, 																	reliability, 																	quality assurance															
						

					

							


		

		
			

								Main Article Content


									
													
								Lesley A. Chesson
																	
										Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
									

																							

													
								Thuan H. Chau
																	
										SNA International
									

																							

													
								Amelia J. Edwards
																	
										SNA International
									

																							

													
								Gregory E. Berg
																	
										Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
									

																							

											

				
													
						Abstract

						
							Building on applications in anthropology, the use of stable isotope ratio analysis of human bone collagen to investigate an individual’s life history is becoming more commonplace in the forensic science community. Careful consideration of the resultant isotope delta (δ) values, particularly in regard to their accuracy and reliability, is paramount when introducing isotope data into the U.S. court system. In this study, we use a simple framework to calculate real interpretative difference (RID) values for collagen (“col”) and assess isotope data comparability for sample analysis (RIDanalysis) as well as sample preparation/analysis combined (RIDcombined). The RIDcombined values of 0.59‰ for δ13Ccol and 0.91‰ for δ15Ncol are similar to more complex, published calculations of inter-laboratory variability in the stable isotope analysis of skeletal remains, but they are easier to calculate and intuitively elegant. The RIDcombined as well as RIDanalysis values presented here allow users to examine multiple sources of inter-laboratory isotopic variation (preparation, analysis, and both together) in a two-step  process whereby a RID value is constructed and then tested. Implementation of this RID approach will provide surety for the legal and research communities in forensic applications of stable isotope ratio analysis.

						

					

				
				

			

			

								Article Details


								
																			
								
					
						Issue
					

					
						
							Vol. 4 No. 3 (2021)
						

					

				


									
						
							Section
						

						
							Research Articles
						

					

				
								
																																																				
				
	
		
		 			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			

			
				
	





								
			
		

	




	




	

									
				
	sidebar-links

	
		ABOUT

	Overview
	Editorial Board
	Publication Ethics
	Contact


CONTRIBUTORS

	Author Guidelines
	Book Review Guidelines
	Open Access Policy
	Special Issue Proposals
	Submit an Article


SUBSCRIBERS

	Subscribe/Renew
	Recommend to Your Librarian


 NEWS SIGN-UPNEWS SIGN-UP 

	




    Tweets by @JForensicAnth
    
        
        
    



	
		Most Read
				
					What Are We Really Estimating in Forensic Anthropological Practice, Population Affinity or Ancestry?

														
	
					Introduction

														
	
					Estimating the Number of Individuals in a Large Commingled Assemblage

														
	
					Challenges to Identifications of the Cabanatuan Prison Camp Cemetery Remains

														
	
					Unidentified Bodies in the Mexican Context

														


	




			
				


	

		

			
								 					




ISSN: 2573-5020

EISSN: 2573-5039


 







Main Office: 
2046 NE Waldo Road 
Suite 2100 
Gainesville, FL 32609
Phone: 352-392-1351
Email: journals@upress.ufl.edu





Navigation

	Home
	Search
	Current
	Archives
	Subscribe










				

				
								
					
                                                
                                        
				


			
 
		

	






