Tony M May 29, 2013:

Right! That really does make all the difference!

ManuelaW (asker) May 29, 2013:

Yeah, sorry, I actually gave you the definition of "trace range". We use "trace value" for a test result that is within the trace range.

Tony M May 29, 2013:

@ Asker Right, that's what I'd have thought — but is slightly at odds with the definition you originally gave us!

However, it is slightly unusual (at least in everyday language) to speak of a 'trace value'; it is more usually a 'trace amount' — or just 'trace'; hence the reason for my query, as it was really important to get to the bottom of what is actually being talked about here.

ManuelaW (asker) May 29, 2013:

Hi Tony I asked my colleagues and they told me that trace value means that there is only a very small amount of an analyte (a value that is only a little above zero).

Madeleine Chevassus May 28, 2013:

d'accord avec Tony et en référence avec l'expression "trace elements"

Tony M May 28, 2013:

@ Asker Are you sure of your definition there?

I'd have expected 'trace' to mean 'an amount too small to measure or register' — and hence, I'd have imagined 'trace value' to mean the threshold value below which no figure is given, but the items is just recorded as 'trace'.

If my suggestions are not consistent with your context, then it would probably help if you explained what makes you think not?