Article written by
Tom Coyner, President, Analytical Products Group
Changing the Playing Field: The PE Advantage
When the stakeholders and US EPA started to build the NELAC process years ago, our goal was to
improve data quality and to minimize the cost of laboratory accreditation. Whether we succeeded
in either attempt is still in doubt. However, there is one clear result of the NELAC system
that was completely unanticipated. What the NELAC process has done is “level the playing field”, and
that’s not a good thing.
By requiring NELAC accreditation and working hard to sell the program to the data users, we
have leveled the field and made all NELAC laboratories the same. The unforeseen result has been
that data users now disregard laboratory quality in their contracting decisions and focus their
laboratory selection on price. NELAC accreditation has become a surrogate for sufficient quality
and lead to stiff price competition between laboratories.
The truth of the matter, of course, is that there are significant quality differences between
NELAC laboratories but the problem is that high quality laboratories have no way to separate
themselves from the pack. They have been unable to use laboratory quality as a service
differentiator.
As a PT provider, APG sees the dramatic differences between laboratories every day. The NELAC
system of PT testing simply allows poor laboratories to gain equivalent certification rather than
insure quality. A NELAC committee chair recently referred to NELAC PT testing as
a “Bubba Test.” At best it will remove laboratories that have no business being in business.
The PT program as operated by NELAC has no way of assuring laboratory quality. It is designed
specifically to monitor baseline performance for the regulatory authorities not measure quality.
In contrast to NELAC PT programs, a classical performance evaluation (PE) program is designed
to measure laboratory quality. APG is the only PE program provider also approved to supply NELAC
samples. Performance Evaluation programs compare laboratory performance based upon an entirely
separate set of criteria than the NELAC program. If this information is properly presented the
difference between laboratories become crystal clear.
The APG Advantage analysis and reporting system, demonstrates quality through a series of
eleven reports that make extensive use of charts and graphs. Advantage Reporting can identify
laboratory excellence as well as failures. Advantage Reporting can track and trend PE data over
time. Advantage Reporting can allow direct comparison of laboratories in a network and
demonstrate consistency across the network. The Advantage Reporting system is the way to
demonstrate laboratory quality. Most importantly, Advantage can allow you to use quality as a
service differentiator and escape the sell on price spiral.
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