develop consensus standards for use by TNI's programs. This group has a support role in assisting other programs with activities such as guidance and standards interpretation.
fosters the generation of data of known and documented quality is through the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, or NELAP. The purpose of this program is to establish and implement a program for the accreditation of environmental laboratories.
is to establish and maintain a national PT program to support TNI’s National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, and other activities.
Field Activities Program (NEFAP) Executive Committee is to establish and implement an accreditation program for field sampling and measurement organizations (FSMOs).
Audit Sample Program is to develop consensus standards for the manufacture and analysis of audit samples for source emission testing.
on a variety of topics of interest to the environmental measurement community. TNI also hosts two regularly scheduled meetings per year, typically in January and August. Both are a week long and involve open meetings of TNI committees as well as training courses and other special sessions.Standard Interpretation
Standard: 2003 NELAC
Section: 5.5.5.5
Link to relevant standard
REQUEST:
Are electronic records sufficient for instrument maintenance? If not, can the electronic records be printed and indexed periodically (perhaps monthly) to satisfy hard copy requirements? We can currently record all maintenance in our LIMS system.
TNI FINAL RESPONSE:
(Quality Systems Expert Committee/NELAP Board, 10-11-09)
There is nothing stated in 5.5.5.5 that states that records must be hard copy. If the records are maintained in a secure manner (presumably the LIMS contains audit trails and password protection), all of the items required in 5.5.5.5 are maintained, and any other requirements for records and records maintenance are met, this should be allowed.