Article written by Wade DeLong, Lab Manager, Analytical Products Group, Inc.
Complete article from Edition 32 APG eNewsletter
July 2005 marks the first NELAC soils PT program offered by APG, following a trial study in May 2005. The July 2005 Soils and Hazardous Waste PT program will include traditional inorganic and organic samples; Trace Metals, Volatiles, PCBs and Base-Neutrals and Acids, just to name a few. In addition, we will include UST specific samples on a trial basis; TPH, DRO, GRO, and BTEX. We will also have a PAH by HPLC Soil PT on a trial basis. Please visit our web site www.APGQA.com/soils to view our current line of soils PT products.
The trial study of Soils and Hazardous Waste PT products was initiated on May 5, 2005 and closed on June 10, 2005. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the matrix and sample preparation procedures developed for this product line. The trial also gave us the opportunity to evaluate internal homogeneity and stability testing procedures and to get feedback from customers on the usability of the samples as designed.
Thirty-nine laboratories received trial samples of which thirty-two reported results. Although most of these laboratories were large commercial laboratories, a few industrial and municipal laboratories participated in the trial. The vast majority of results were reported using the online data entry system, and no system errors were reported by the laboratories. Similarly, APG did not receive any complaints, or negative comments, on the usability of the samples.
As expected, the verification, homogeneity, and stability testing performed by APG met all NELAC criteria. The interlaboratory results contained in the report are consistent with Soils data reported in prior NELAC studies by other PT providers. As is typical of Soils data, the acceptance ranges are very broad and the recoveries of some compounds in the Semi-volatiles sample were very low. However, in general, recoveries tended to be higher than median soil data in the same range.
Based upon the results of the trial, additional soil samples will be added to the product line in both July and October. In October, we will add the State Specific Soils on a trial basis.
We would like to thank all of our customers who participated in the trial study.
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