DMRQA Micro Samples Development Update

APG has been providing microbiological samples now for over two years. At the beginning of our micro product offering we were purchasing the samples from a subcontractor. We received comments from customers on many facets of the product. When we were purchasing the samples from someone else we could not respond quickly or effectively to our customer’s needs.   It was a long arduous journey resulting in accreditation by NELAC as a Microbiological Proficiency Testing (PT) Provider in November 2006.  This article addresses the Non-Potable Water (WP) PT product development.  

Read the complete article
[http://www.apgqa.com/newsletters/5_2007_micro.asp]

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Coming Changes PT Evaluations

There are major changes coming to the Soils and Hazardous Waste Proficiency Testing Program.  The NELAC Institute (TNI) has developed new PT evaluation criteria which will be implemented with the July 2007 Soils and Hazardous Waste PT study.  The new criteria are available at http://www.nelac-institute.org/ , select PT Tables and scroll down to the Solid and Chemical Materials (SCM) Fields of Proficiency Testing (FoPT) section.  You will find a brief description of the changes and the FoPT tables with a list of the analytes, concentration ranges and evaluation criteria.  Almost all concentration ranges have changed as well as most evaluation criteria.  Of particular interest to laboratories should be the footnotes to the table(s) which will have a dramatic impact on acceptance ranges.  We will be including articles in future newsletters with more detailed information on the changes and how they will affect your evaluations.

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Update to DMRQA 27

The analyte Escherichia coli (E. coli) has been added to the analyte list of this year’s DMRQA study.  This is a requirement of some state accreditation programs.  Please check with your DMRQA coordinator to determine how you should report your Microbiological PT results.  The two options are “Fecal Coliforms as E. coli” or “Escherichia coli” either by membrane filtration (MF) or most probable number (MPN). 

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Understanding DMRQA Samples
APG's list of technical tips addresses common DMRQA problems and will help to simplify your DMRQA analyses.

Read the complete article
[http://www.apgqa.com/newsletters/dmr_2007_techtips.asp]

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Standard Methods 21st Edition BOD Changes
While the 21st Edition of Standard Methods has not yet been approved for Clean Water Act monitoring, it is worthwhile to know what changes are being made in the BOD test (SM 5210B). Some of these changes may be allowed, or even encouraged, by regulators and lab accreditors even before they are officially approved. This article points out some of the more significant changes in the order they appear in the revised method.

Read the Complete Article
[http://www.apgqa.com/newsletters/5_2007_bod_changes.asp]

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Connecting the Dots
Microbial growth is characterized by the number of cells or colony forming units per volume of sample.   This concept is a mass/volume ratio that is roughly proportional to the growing conditions as well as the initial number of different organisms found in the sample.  By better understanding how the range of the sample is related to the optimum colony forming units per volume tested we can better determine the dilution factors in which to use for the most accurate count. 

Read the Complete Article
[http://www.apgqa.com/newsletters/5_2007_dots.asp]

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This survey question is anonymous and will be used for general market research purposes. Thanks.

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Employment News

APG is growing and we are looking for dynamic, motivated, high energy people to join our team. We believe that the quality of our people is what differentiates us in the market place and drives our competitive advantage. We are currently looking for qualified candidates to fill several opportunities. Positions open include, Sales, Quality Assurance, Microbiologist, and Technical Service Representative. For more information please visit our web site.

http://www.apgqa.com/jobs/

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Win a Pizza Party for Your Laboratory
As an incentive to enter your data online, one lucky online user will win a pizza party for his or her lab. You are automatically registered for the drawing when you enter your DMRQA 27 data at www.APGQA.com . The winner will be posted at www.APGQA.com on September 15, 2007.

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For questions or comments, please send an email to support@apgqa.com. Send recommendations for future APG eNewsletter topics to enews@apgqa.com.

2006 Analytical Products Group, Inc.
Email	support@apgqa.com
Phone	800.272.4442 - Belpre
	440.899.9452 - Cleveland
Fax	740.423.5588