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: 5.5.5.10
Link to relevant standard
REQUEST:
b) Calibration shall be verified for each compound, element, or other discrete chemical species, except for multi-component analytes such as Aroclors...
A laboratory is saying that they do not need to run a Chlordane standard to report non-detect chlordane results because of this NELAC Quality Systems Chapter 5 statement. They are saying that the auditors allow it. No continuing calibration is required for SW-846 Method 8082?
TNI FINAL RESPONSE:
(Quality System Expert Committee/NELAP Accreditation Council, x-x-10)
It is important to read the entire Standard, not just a single phrase. The full language of the referenced section is as follows: "Calibration shall be verified for each compound, element, or other discrete chemical species, except for multi-component analytes such as Aroclors, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, or Toxaphene where a representative chemical related substance or mixture can be used." The requirement is that a representative chemical related substance or mixture is to be used to verify the calibration.
If a representative substance were used, such as alpha or gamma Chlordane in lieu of Technical Chlordane, that would meet the requirements of this section.