Using Real Interpretative Differences to Assess Inter-laboratory Isotopic Variability Due to Sample Preparation | Forensic Anthropology Main Navigation Main Content Sidebar Current Archives Search Submit Subscribe Early View Toggle search Register Login Search Toggle navigation Home Archives Vol. 5 No. 1 (2022) Research Articles Using Real Interpretative Differences to Assess Inter-laboratory Isotopic Variability Due to Sample Preparation Article Sidebar Requires Subscription or Fee PDF (USD 25) Requires Subscription or Fee HTML (USD 25) Published: Feb 24, 2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5744/fa.2020.0045 Keywords: forensic anthropology, forensic science, isotope analysis, human bone collagen, stable isotopes Main Article Content Amelia J. Edwards SNA International Lesley A. Chesson DPAA Laboratory, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI Eric J. Bartelink Department of Anthropology, University of California Thuan H. Chau SNA International Gregory E. Berg DPAA Laboratory, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI Abstract Here we present a two-part study to assess isotope data comparability between two sample preparation laboratories, based on the concept of Real Interpretative Differences (RID). Inter-laboratory isotopic variability should be evaluated prior to compiling data from different sources. Isotopic variability can result from two main causes: sample preparation and sample analysis. We compared the carbon and nitrogen isotope delta (δ) values of 20 modern human bone collagen sample pairs—representing seven individuals from diverse backgrounds—that were prepared close in time at two laboratories and then analyzed at one facility. From this study, values for RID of preparation, or RIDprep, were calculated for bone collagen as 0.43‰ and 0.75‰ for δ13C values and δ15N values, respectively. These RIDprep values were tested using a set of 30 bone collagen sample pairs—representing 30 modern individuals—that were first prepared over a span of five years (2014–2019) at one laboratory; they were prepared again at the second laboratory in 2019. While the differences in isotope δ values between the paired samples in the second study were statistically significant, they did not exceed the calculated RIDprep values for either carbon (30 comparisons) or nitrogen (30 comparisons)—with the exception of one carbon difference in a single paired bone sample. The inherent error rate in combining the isotope test results was thus calculated as 1.7%. This study demonstrated that the isotope data generated from human bone collagen prepared at one laboratory can be reliably compared to data generated from samples prepared at the other laboratory. Article Details Issue Vol. 5 No. 1 (2022) 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