Why do we need the uncertainty factor?

Abstract

The uncertainty factor is a new way to express measurement uncertainty. It is especially applicable when the uncertainty is large (e.g., expanded relative uncertainty > 20%), which occurs in some analytical methods, and also when the uncertainty includes that arising from the primary sampling of highly heterogeneous materials. The upper and lower confidence limits of the uncertainty interval are calculated by multiplying and dividing the measurement result by the uncertainty factor, rather than adding and subtracting the traditional uncertainty value.