Quality Assurance
SPL’s Quality Assurance Program documented in the Quality Assurance Plan (QAP), is designed to meet federal, state, and local regulatory guidelines and all available quality standards. The SPL QAP delineates the laboratory-wide policies, procedures, and organization and QA/QC activities incorporated in all SPL operations to ultimately ensure that analytical data meet intended uses. The objectives of our QA program are built into all activities of the laboratory. This is achieved by ensuring that:
- Quality policy is well documented and implemented in all aspects of SPL operations
- Personnel are well trained and knowledgeable in tasks assigned
- Officially approved analytical methods are followed
- Quality control is built into the analytical systems to ensure that they are in a state of statistical control
- High-purity standard reference materials (SRM) are routinely analyzed to ensure the production of accurate analytical results
- Data quality is known, documented and maintained
- Records are maintained to provide for reconstruction of all phases of the analytical processes
- Before any analysis can be initiated, performance-based data (detection limits, precision, and accuracy) are generated and documented
The QC procedures specific to analytical methods are detailed in the SPL method-specific SOPs. SOPs also document administrative and non-analytical processes such as sample receiving and log-in, data review and validation, report production and document control, waste management, and other related activities.
Rigorous QA measures, the foundation of SPL’s operations, are incorporated into laboratory services offered by the facility. Every aspect of sample handling and analysis, data production, and documentation is monitored closely by knowledgeable, experienced QA personnel.
We ensure that sample integrity is maintained throughout the laboratory by following EPA chain-of-custody procedures, good laboratory practices (GLPs) and good measurement practices (GMPs) in the handling, preparation, and analysis of the environmental samples. To ensure sample integrity, chemical, and physical determinations of environmental samples are performed in a work environment free of sample contaminants and free of physical and chemical interferences.
SPL has a well-documented preventative maintenance program for maintenance and calibration of all major analytical instrumentation and support equipment. The analytical instruments and computers are routinely serviced. The performance of analytical support equipment including analytical balances, ovens, reagent-water systems, water baths, refrigerators and freezers, micropipettes and thermometers are verified and documented on a scheduled basis.
Laboratory personnel analyze daily calibration, independent initial calibration, or QC check standard for all inorganic and organic analyses. Calibration accuracy is ensured through the use of independent standards traceable to NIST, or other recognized standards agencies. The initial calibrations are verified by using continuing calibration check samples and low-concentration standards. Precision is estimated by analyzing duplicate or replicate client samples and matrix spikes. Sample and reagent contamination are monitored through the use of calibration instrument and method blanks, accuracy is monitored using the data generated from the laboratory control samples (LCSs) and matrix spike and matrix spike duplicate samples. LCS data also serve as a basis to empirically determine QC acceptance limits and to detect any trends over time. The results of all daily and/or weekly check sources are compared to establish QC criteria, and are thoroughly documented. In the event that the method or project-specific QC criteria are not achieved, the analyst investigates the sources of the nonconformance and implements corrective action which may include reanalyzing the QC standard, retuning and/or re-calibration of the instrument, or reanalysis of the samples in question.
We use technical systems and performance evaluations as QA tools to further identify analytical systems that fail to meet the SPL-established or project-specified or method-specified criteria. If on the basis of internal or external systems or performance audits, routine monitoring of laboratory support equipment, or QC samples analysis results, analytical systems fail to be met the established criteria, an appropriate corrective action is identified and implemented. The Project Manager, QA Officer, cognizant laboratory manager, and the analyst may be involved in identifying the proper corrective action. If previously reported data are affected or if the corrective action will impact the project budget or schedule, the action directly involves SPL’s Laboratory Manager. The corrective action employed may be formal or informal and depends on the nature of the problem. In either case, the corrective action employed, and verification that the problem has been eliminated is thoroughly documented on a nonconformance and corrective action record (NCAR). Clients are notified of quality issues as appropriate.
Prior to transmission to the client, analytical data reports undergo an in-depth, independent review process by the following staff members: (1) Analyst; (2) Technical Lead or peer; (3) Report Generation; and (4) Project Manager. Selected analytical data are also independently verified by the QA staff to ensure that both the data and deliverable reports are in conformance with method/project specific criteria. The analytical precision and accuracy is evaluated by using QC check standards, laboratory control samples, surrogate spikes, matrix spikes, matrix spike duplicates, and unspiked duplicates to estimate the degree of variance around the reported value as well as any bias introduced due to matrix or laboratory sample processing procedures.
Included in this extensive evaluation is a determination of the potential for background contamination resulting from sample containers, reagent water, reagents or solvents used during digestion or extraction, cross-examination during storage, or carryover during analysis. Random errors resulting from in-correct calculations, transcription errors are also examined by performing independent recalculations against the raw analytical data.
Sample data reports are available in hard-copy format. Formats can be tailored to meet specific client requirements. The QAP provides a detailed description of our comprehensive program designed to ensure the production of quality data that will withstand legal scrutiny and meet client specifications.
Click here to view our Quality Assurance Manual.