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: Appendix C.1 (a), C.3.1, C.3.2
REQUEST:
A laboratory in our program has requested clarification that the term "outside source" has the same or a different meaning from the term "secondary source." The laboratory understands that a "secondary source" should be used for instrument calibration per NELAC 5.5.5.2.2.1.d but this is not required for demonstration of capability or determination of LOD or determination of LOQ. The question is "Is 'outside source' the same as 'secondary source'?" Thank you for your assistance.
TNI FINAL RESPONSE:
The term outside source is not equivalent to the term secondary source.
The outside source cited in C.1 a) meant a source other than calibration standards. This is consistent with the definition of Quality Control Sample, which may be a Certified Reference Material, quality system matrix fortified by spiking, or actual samples fortified by spiking.