Reference material
Pronounced / REF·er·uns muh·TEER·ee·ul /
A material used as a point of comparison in measurement work.
Example in a sentence
“The lab runs a certified reference material each morning to verify that its instruments read accurately.”
In cannabis testing
NIST develops cannabis reference materials as part of its laboratory quality work. Laboratories can use appropriate materials to check their measurements.
Keep it separate from a retail sample
A reference material is a measurement tool. It is not a recommended consumer product or a representative review of a named strain. When reading about one, check which substances or properties the material is intended to support.