| Quality assurance
is achieved through integration of quality control, quality auditing, measurement
method validation, and data validation. The Laboratory maintains a quality
assurance program to ensure the integrity and reliability of its own operation
and can also design and implement quality assurance programs for external
studies (Custom Analysis/Services).
The objectives
of the Laboratory’s quality assurance measures are: (1) maintaining a
continuing assessment of the quality of data generated by analysts working
in the laboratory; (2) providing a permanent record of instrument performance
as a basis for validating data and projecting repairs and replacement
needs; (3) ensuring sample integrity; (4) maintaining accurate records;
(5) producing analytical results that can withstand scientific and legal
scrutiny.
As a routine
part of the Organic Analytical Laboratory’s on-going quality assurance
activities, parameters related to precision, accuracy, and completeness
are continually monitored.
- The quality
control system is based on standard operating procedures tested and
established for all sampling, analysis, and data processing.
- Standard
operating procedures include, when applicable, a statement of purpose,
a list of required equipment and forms, specification of calibration
standards, step-by-step procedures including a process flow diagram,
a quantification procedure, tolerances for performance tests, and an
audit protocol.
- Standard
operating procedures are reviewed and updated as necessary to incorporate
feedback from the field and laboratory as well as audit results.
- Precision
is monitored by multiple-point calibration curves and by duplicate analyses
of samples.
- Accuracy
is confirmed by blind interlaboratory comparisons. DRI has experienced
excellent results in the following comparison studies:
- International
Hydrocarbon Intercomparison Experiment sponsored by the National Center
for Atmospheric Research.
-
NARSTO-Northeast
Hydrocarbon Intercomparison Study (the DRI Organic Analytical Laboratory
performed the best in comparison with all other participants).
- Non-methane
hydrocarbon laboratory performance audits organized by the Quality
Assurance Section, Monitoring and Laboratory Division, California
Air Resources Board.
- Analysis
of the standard hydrocarbon mixture employed by the Environmental
Protection Agency in the Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations
monitoring program.
- Auto/oil
round-robin comparison study for analysis of hydrocarbon and carbonyl
compounds sponsored by the Coordinating Research Council.
- Accuracy
is further ensured through use of the National Institute of Standards
(NIST) standards for calibration of the flame ionization detectors and
other NIST and NIST-traceable standards for calibration of the other
instruments.
- Completeness
is addressed through systematic calibration of systems used for qualitative
analysis combined with an extensive data management system to provide
rapid and accurate determination of the presence or absence of targeted
compounds.
|
