Growing popularity of the Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) and increasing number of service companies and academia core facilities offering Nanosight sample analysis led to a sad conclusion: there are not that many reliable sources and it is not that rare when instrument is misused.
Here are 7 RED FLAGS to include in your reported data check list:
1. At least two files should be reported for each analysis: xls with experiment summary and pdf report summary.
2. Solvent and diluent purity check is reported.
3. Instrument performance is validated by measuring at least one standard with a known size and concentration prior to sample analysis, and the same (or close) camera level and detection threshold are used for the sample analysis.
4. At least 3 replicates of 30 seconds analysis are done for each sample.
5. Sample analysis is based on at least 500 valid tracks.
6. Reported concentration is in the range of 10^7-10^9 particles/mL
7. FILENAME.xls experiment summary state that NO or minor "noise".