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).
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 F.2.1, F.2.2, F.3
Link to relevant standard
REQUEST:
I am confused about the PT requirements for labs doing WET analysis. The only 'true' PT is the DMRQA - but it runs longer than 45 days - which doesn't meet F.2.2 requirements. I need to know will the DMRQA be allowed and counted as a PT until such a time as the PT providers have other PTs available?
TNI FINAL RESPONSE:
(Proficiency Testing Executive Committee / NELAP Accreditation Council, 1-x-11)
While the DMRQA study containing the WET PT is open for a period longer than 45 days, the laboratory must complete the analysis of the WET PT sample within 45 days of sample receipt in order for the WET PT result to be used to meet 2003 NELAC standard requirements. The laboratory would have up to 45 days from sample receipt to analyze the WET sample and then the remainder of the DMRQA study period to report the WET PT analytical results to the PT provider.