Latest Editions of APG eNews View APG eNewsletter Press Releases APG Offers the Advantage APG Now Offers Microbiological and Soils Proficiency Testing Samples APG Announces First Trial Soils Study and 2005-2006 Soil Schedules Upcoming Events IAETL - Illinois Association of Environmental Laboratories December 4-5, 2008 Chicago, IL Forum on Laboratory Accreditation January 11-16, 2009 Miami, FL Pittsburg Conference March 8-13, 2009 Chicago, IL ____________________________________________________________ APG Offers the Advantage Analytical Products Group, Inc. (APG) has developed new services to help laboratories gain additional value from their participation in proficiency testing (PT) programs. This range of services is called Advantage. The Advantage Reporting Tool APG’s Advantage Reporting Tool is the PT industry’s first comprehensive, online performance review system. The Advantage Reporting Tool enables laboratories to track, trend, and improve the quality and defensibility of their analytical data. For each APG study in which a customer has participated since 1999, The Advantage Reporting Tool securely presents performance results in two major categories - Accreditation Management and Quality Improvement. The Advantage Reporting Tool includes tabular and graphical representations of proficiency testing results. All study results, even quick-turnaround sample results, are available online with The Advantage Reporting Tool. The system is free to all APG customers. The Advantage Training Verification Tool The Advantage Training Verification Tool provides laboratories with training samples customized to their standard operating procedures (SOP). The Advantage Training Verification Tool is an interactive, online reporting system that provides an easy way to monitor and document the demonstration of NELAC performance training requirements. The Advantage Training Verification Tool generates a training certificate and tracks continuing training requirements to relieve laboratories of this burden. The Advantage Training Verification Tool is an affordable system that helps train employees and ensures that laboratories continue to produce the best data. [Back to top] ____________________________________________________________ APG Now Offers Microbiological and Soil Proficiency Testing Samples Analytical Products Group, Inc. (APG) understands that its customers need a Proficiency Testing (PT) provider that is flexible and able to adapt to new markets and regulatory needs. As a result, APG is meeting the evolving needs of its customers by adding Microbiological and Soil PT samples. Microbiology In the last quarter of 2004, APG introduced Wastewater (WP) and Drinking Water (WS) Microbiological PT and QC samples. The WP Microbiological samples are available each year in February, April, July, and October. The WS Microbiological samples are available with each bi-monthly study. APG’s microbiological testing capabilities will be expanded during 2005 to support the additional needs of the environmental market. Soils and Hazardous Waste APG will release the first trial Soil and Hazardous Waste PT study in March 2005, and the second trial will be offered in the second quarter of 2005. Each trial will include a full set of NELAC RCRA Soil PT samples. It is expected that State Specific Soil samples will be offered in the fourth quarter of 2005. The soils product line has been under development for more than a year, and APG has committed more than $100,000 in new capital equipment to support this project. [Back to top] ____________________________________________________________ APG Announces First Trial Soil Study and 2005-2006 Soil Schedules Analytical Products Group, Inc. (APG) of Belpre, Ohio is now offering a Soils and Hazardous Waste Proficiency Testing Program. The Soils Program opened with a trial study beginning May 9, 2005 and ending June 10, 2005 and included free samples and free shipping. The samples available for the free trial include Volatiles, PCBs, Pesticides, Toxaphene, Total Chlordane, Herbicides, Base/Neutrals and Acids, Trace Metals, Hexavalent Chromium, and Total Cyanide, and the samples are at ranges that are designed to meet NELAC requirements. APG would appreciate it if participants would report data and provide feedback regarding the study to help ensure that future Soils studies are as effective as possible. The full 2005 Soil studies will be offered in July and October. The 2006 Soils studies will be offered quarterly (January, April, July, and October). Each of these full studies will also offer Underground Storage Tank and State Specific samples in addition to the products listed above. For more information about the Soils products, you can contact an APG Customer Service Representative at 800.272.4442 or 740.423.4200. To order soils products, visit the following page: www.apgqa.com/soils [Back to top]