Lambda (unit) explained
| lambda |
| Standard: | Non-SI metric unit |
| Quantity: | Volume |
| Symbol: | λ |
| Units1: | SI base units |
| Units2: | Units accepted for use with SI |
Lambda (written λ, in lowercase) is a non-SI unit of volume equal to 10−9 m3, 1 cubic millimetre (mm3) or 1 microlitre (μL). Introduced by the BIPM in 1880,[1] the lambda has been used in chemistry[2] and in law for measuring volume, but its use is not recommended.[3]
This use of λ parallels the pre-SI use of μ on its own for a micrometre and γ for a microgram.[4] [5] Although the use of λ is deprecated, some clinical laboratories continue to use it.[6] The standard abbreviation μL for a microlitre has the disadvantage that it can be misread as mL (a unit 1000 times larger). In pharmaceutical use, no abbreviation for a microlitre is considered safe. The recommended practice is to write "microlitre" in full.[7]
Notes and References
- Donald Fenna (2002), A Dictionary of Weights, Measures, and Units, Oxford University Press,, p. 153.
- Web site: Units: L . University of North Carolina. 2015-03-28 .
- Carl A. Burtis and David E. BrunsTietz (2014), Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, 7th ed., Elsevier Health Sciences,, p. 114.
- Lela Buckingham (2014), Fundamental Laboratory Mathematics: Required Calculations for the Medical Laboratory Professional, F. A. Davis,, p. 48.
- I. P. Alimarin and M. N. Petrikova (2013), Inorganic Ultramicroanalysis, Elsevier,, p. xiv.
- Barbara H. Estridge, Anna P. Reynolds, and Norma J. Walters (2000), Basic Medical Laboratory Techniques, 4th ed., Cengage Learning,, p. 32.
- Chris Langley and Yvonne Perrie (2014), Maths Skills for Pharmacy: Unlocking Pharmaceutical Calculations, Oxford University Press,, p. 55.
