originCatSet disambiguation

[wastewater_belgium]

Hi,

Could you add more details or examples about derived and synthetic choices in the description column of ODM-full-dictionary file? This is not clear to me what it is used for with the current description.

Thank you.

[matthomson]

Hi @wastewater_belgium ! Thank you for this questions, and apologies for the slow reply.

A synthetic sample is a sample generated entirely artificially - a de novo, lab-generated sample.

A derived sample is a sample that is made in part from a true field sample. This might be a made from diluted wastewater, for example.

We’ll update the definitions in the next release of the dictionary so that they are hopefully more clear. We recognize we didn’t really make the difference clear in the current release.

@jeandavidt → Does this seem right to you as well?

Thank you again for this!

[jeandavidt]

That is my understanding as well

[dmanuel]

For others reading the post, these parts are here, and the current descriptions are as follows.

Sample Origin set

(originSet)The set for storing the valid categorical values of sample origin.
Status: active. First Released: 2.0.0. Last updated: 2.0.0.

• Derived sample (derived). Specifies a sample that is derrived or made from another sample or material.
  Status: active. First released: 2.0.0. Last updated: 2.0.0.
• Field sample (field). Specifies a sample taken from the field; directly collected from an area for testing.
  Status: active. First released: 2.0.0. Last updated: 2.0.0.
• Synthetic sample (synthetic). Specifies a synthetic, or artificially derrived sample.
  Status: active. First released: 2.0.0. Last updated: 2.0.0.

@matthomson and I were chatting and had these notes which we’ll incorporate into the part instructions. Send along comments.

Synthetic samples are artificially created by mixing known quantities of target substances or organisms with clean water, often in a laboratory setting. These samples are used as controls, benchmarks, or calibration standards during the analysis process to ensure accurate and reliable results. For instance, a synthetic sample containing a known concentration of a specific pollutant might be used to calibrate analytical equipment or to test the efficiency of a new detection method.

A derived sample is a type of sample created by mixing material obtained from a field sample (e.g., wastewater, soil, or air) with additional additives in a laboratory setting. This process can involve diluting the original field sample with clean water or other solutions, as needed. Derived samples are typically used to adjust the concentration of the target substance or organism, making it more suitable for analysis or to test the efficiency and sensitivity of detection methods. In the example given, a derived sample might be a sub-sample of wastewater that is diluted with clean water to achieve a specific concentration, allowing for more accurate and reliable analysis.