QUALITY ASSURANCE
Certifications
and Accreditations
ASI's 2009 Quality
Assurance Plan is available on CD-ROM in Adobe PDF format. If you are an existing ASI client, you may
request a copy from the Contact Us page.
STATEMENT OF
POLICY
Analytical
Services, Inc. (ASI) offers a complete line of laboratory testing procedures
for the analysis of environmental samples, along with the ability to procure
samples in the field, in conformity with established EPA and state
environmental regulatory agency guidelines. The Quality Assurance Manager and
the Chief Chemist are responsible for review of all new work requests to insure
that ASI has the appropriate facilities and capabilities to perform the tasks
associated with the work, prior to acceptance
ASI
is committed to the use of good Quality Control (QC) procedures for all field
and laboratory operations in order to insure both the analytical validity and
the legal defensibility of all reported data. The specific QC procedures are
governed by strict adherence to the Quality Assurance (QA) program, which details
the techniques utilized to achieve the maximum accuracy, precision,
completeness, representativeness and comparability of results reported from
this organization.
The
standard analysis at ASI generates definitive data. Definitive data are those
that are generated from analytical systems that are:
1.
set-up in exact compliance with approved regulatory methods
2.
fully calibrated for each analyte
3.
calibration is checked on at least a daily basis
4.
all target analyte identities are confirmed using the best available techniques
5.
evaluated with regular assessments of precision, accuracy, detection/reporting
limit
Analytical
techniques that do not meet the above requirements are considered screening
methods. ASI uses screening techniques only after specific request from and
consultation with the client.
The
QA program is detailed in the Comprehensive QA Plan. The QA Plan is a written
document that is updated at regular intervals or as necessary to incorporate
expansions to the capabilities of ASI or changes in accepted QC methods as
promulgated by EPA and/or state environmental regulatory agencies.
Implementation of the QC methods detailed in the Comprehensive QA Plan is
overseen by the QA Officer, who reports directly to the Chief Chemist.
ASI
exercises a policy of strict client confidentiality. No data is released to any
third party without a written release from the client.
CERTIFICATIONS
AND ACCREDITATIONS
~National
Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP)
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PROFICIENCY TESTING
Proficiency Testing (PT)
samples are blind samples sent to the laboratory by outside parties for
evaluation of qualitative and quantitative accuracy. The analyte concentrations of the blind
samples are known to the sender but not to the laboratory. Successful analyses of the PT samples are
required for the continuing certification and accreditation of the laboratory. Failure of the PT samples can result in
decertification and loss of revenue.
These samples are sent from a variety of sources including commercial
vendors, states, government agencies, and from individual clients. Different states have different PT
requirements. PT samples are also called
quality control check samples or performance evaluation (PE) samples.
ASI receives a number of PT
samples for a variety of regulatory programs.
Those PT samples coming from a commercial proficiency testing provider
include: WP (biannual samples sent in support of the water pollution programs
covered under the Clean Water Act); WS samples (biannual samples sent in
support of the water supply programs covered under the Safe Drinking Water
Act); Soil samples (biannual samples sent in support of solid waste programs under
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, RCRA); and DMR samples (annual
Discharge Monitoring Report samples are in support of National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination system, (NPDES),program.
(WP samples can also be used as DMR samples.). Individual clients will also send PT samples,
both in support of regulatory requirements as well as to monitor the quality of
the individual laboratory.
Once the results have been
evaluated by the originating agency (proficiency testing provider) and reported
back to ASI, results are shared with the laboratory managers. Laboratory managers respond in written
documentation using a Corrective Action Report to all unacceptable results and
submit them to the QA department. In
order to comply with certification requirements, another PT sample may be
ordered for unacceptable results.
Corrective Action will be implemented if necessary.
Proficiency Testing (PT)
Samples are an integral and vital part of Analytical Services, Inc.’s (ASI)
comprehensive Quality Assurance Program.
As such, it is imperative that all PT samples be analyzed in the same
manner as client samples. PT samples
must be analyzed by the analyst responsible for the analytes of interest using
the same methods and SOP’s as in day-to-day analysis.
ASI’s goal is 100% acceptable results. ASI recognizes that some non-acceptable results are inevitable because of the large number of analytes included in the PT analysis and the narrow range of some acceptance limits (i.e., some drinking water results are less than ± 10%). Non-acceptable results do not necessarily mean that management or the analyst is in error.
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