Preparing for Accreditation
Jerry L. Parr
Catalyst Information Resources, L.L.C.
TNRCC Trade Fair
May 7, 2002

NELAC Accreditation:
Start to Finish
1. Deciding to apply
2. Understanding the requirements
3. Getting ready
4. Accreditation process

Key Documents
 NELAC Standards
 Assessor Training Manual
 National Standards for Water PT
 NELAC PT Tables
 State Requirements
 State Fields of Testing

STEP 1: Deciding to Apply
 Your state’s requirements
 Improve data quality
 Customer expectations
 Marketing advantage

NELAC Improves Data Quality
 Implementation of a Quality System
 Improved documentation
 Standardized policies and procedures
 Ethics program
 Improved technical procedures

Customer Expectations
 EPA
 SDWA
 OSWER
 OIG
 DOD
 Industry

Marketing Considerations
 Recognized standard of excellence
 Use of logo
 Reciprocity = geographic expansion

The Application
 20 detailed items
 Certificate of compliance
 Fields of testing
 Quality manual
 Fee
 State options

Required Elements in
Application
 Legal name of lab
 Address
 Owner (and address)
 Location
 Name and phone of TD, QAO, contact
 Hours of operation
 Primary AA
 Fields of testing
 Methods employed
(with analytes)
 Lab type

Certificate of Compliance
 Attest to compliance to NELAC standards
 Signed by Technical Director & QA
Director

Fields of Testing
 Area:
 Chemistry, Microbiology, WET, Radiochemistry, Field
Activities
 Program
 SDWA, CWA, RCRA, CAA (TSCA, FIFRA, CERCLA)
 Changes to be made in 2002
 Method/Analyte
 Change to technology?
 Include analyte group?

 Proficiency Testing
 Quality System
 Personnel Qualifications

PT Program Review
 Two PT samples per year per field of testing where available
 Purchase from any approved supplier
 Uniform acceptance criteria
 Pass 2 out of last 3

NELAC QUALITY SYSTEM
 Elements documented in quality manual
 Policies and objectives and commitment to accepted laboratory practices and quality of testing services
 Annual internal audit and management review

NELAC Quality Manual
 Policies and operational procedures established to meet NELAC standard.
 Probably most significant up-front investment
 Must address all QS elements
 Template available from
Catalyst

Elements of a Quality System
 Personnel
 Physical facilities
 Equipment and reference materials
 Measurement traceability and calibration
 Test methods and SOPs
 Method verification (Appendix C)

Elements of a Quality System (2)
 Sample handling
 Records and storage of records
 Laboratory report format and content
 Subcontracting
 Complaint procedures
 Essential QC Procedures (Appendix D)
 Chemical, WET, Micro, Radiochemistry, Air

Sample Handling
 Sample tracking
 Sample acceptance
 Sample receipt
 Sample storage
 Legal chain of custody
 Sample disposal

Calibration
 Traceability of calibration
 Reference standards
 General requirements
 Analytical support equipment
 Instrument calibration

QA/QC
 Document control
 Acceptable permitting departures from documented policies, procedures, & specifications
 Corrective action
 Complaint handling
 Preventive action
 Internal audits
 Developing acceptance criteria when no method or regulatory requirement exists

Data Review and Reporting
 Data review
 Reporting analytical results
 Electronic reporting
 Record retention
 Records transfer
 Data integrity
 Data security

Test Methods
 May be copies of published methods
 Must address 23 elements

Essential Quality Control
Required activities, acceptance criteria and corrective action for:
D.1 Chemistry
D.2 WET Testing
D.3 Microbiology
D.4 Radiochemistry
D.5 Air

Chemistry QC
 Method Blanks
 LCS
 MS
 Surrogates
 Detection Limits
 Selectivity
Major revision in 2001 Standards

Detection Limit
Determination
 Appropriate (e.g., MDL)
 Limited exceptions (e.g., temperature)
 Each Matrix (see Glossary)
 Link to Quantitation Limit
 Redo if “significant change”
 Link to instrument calibration

Demonstration of Capability
 All methods
 4 replicates at 10 X DL
 Compare X and s to acceptance criteria
 Limited exceptions
 “Work cell” provision
 Certification statement
Exception in 2001 standards for methods in use before July 1999

Analyst Proficiency
One of the following at least once per year:
 Single blind
 DOC
 PT sample
 4 LCS
 Sample analyzed by another

Proficiency Testing
Quality System
 Personnel Qualifications

Technical Director
 Full time employee
 Oversee all lab operations
 QA/QC
 Data being generated
 Sufficient qualified personnel
 “One or more” may be appointed

TD for Chemical Analysis
 Bachelor’s degree in chemical, environmental, biological sciences, physical sciences, or engineering
 24 college semester credit hours in chemistry
 2 years of experience in environmental analysis
 Master’s or Ph.D. may be substituted for
1 year experience

TD for Inorganic Analysis
(non metals)
 Associate’s degree in chemical, physical or environmental sciences or
 2 years college education and
 16 semester credit hours in chemistry
 2 years of experience

TD for Microbiology
 Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, physical sciences, or engineering
 16 semester credit hours in general microbiology and biology
 2 years of experience
 Master’s or Ph.D. may be substituted for 1 year experience

Exception for Microbiology
 Associate’s degree in science (or 2 years college) with 4 hours in general microbiology and 1 year experience in environmental analysis
 Limited to fecal coliform, total coliform,
& standard plate count

Grandfather Clause
 Does not meet educational requirements
 Is the TD on date laboratory “applies” or
“becomes subject to” NELAC standards
AND has been TD for one year ( new for
2001 )
 Can be TD at any other comparable laboratory
 Limited to first year of program

Exceptions
Full-time employee:
 Of drinking water or sewage treatment facility with valid treatment plant operator’s certificate appropriate for that facility is approved to serve as director of accredited lab devoted to samples taken within facility
 Of industrial waste treatment facility with 1 year supervised experience is approved as director of accredited lab devoted to samples taken within facility

Quality Assurance Officer
 May be TD or deputy TD if limited staff
 Responsible for quality system management & implementation
 Focal point for QA/QC
 Documented training and/or experience in QA/QC
 Knowledge of the test methods
 Arrange for or conduct internal audits annually
 Notify lab management of deficiencies in quality system & ensure corrective action
 No educational or experience requirements

 Organizational Decisions
 Technical Director
 Quality Assurance Officer
 Data Generation
 PT Sample Data
 Method Performance Data
 Documentation
 Quality Manual
 SOPs
 Administrative Information

Organizational Options
 Multiple TD(s), QAO
 Singe TD, QAO
 TD = QAO

Quality Assurance Officer
 Title is optional
 Direct access to management
 May be technical director
 Specific job functions

Recommendations for
TD/QAO
 Have TD and QAO as 2 positions, if organization will allow
 Have single TD, if qualifications allow
 Have deputy TDs for contingency/growth
 Consider grandfather clause

Summary of Data Needed
 2 PT samples results
 Detection limits
 Demonstration of capability (not required for methods already in use, but a good idea)

Administrative Information
 Laboratory organization
 Personnel training
 Equipment & reference materials
 Standards & reagents
 Other

Laboratory Organization
 Organization chart
 Identification of major units
 Lines of responsibility

Personnel Records
 Job descriptions
 Documentation of education/technical background
 Documentation for each employee relating to quality manual
 Training records
 Analyst proficiency

Equipment & Reference
Materials
 Name of equipment
 Manufacturer & serial number
 Date received/placed into serviced
 Current location
 Condition when received
 Copy of manufacturer’s instructions
 Dates of calibration
 Details of maintenance
 History
 Calibration certifications

Standards and Reagents
 Certificate of analysis
 Date of receipt
 Manufacturer/vendor
 Storage conditions
 Expiration dates
 Other information (e.g., sample disposal records)

STEP 4: The Assessment
Process

Understand the
Assessment Process
 Assessors (i.e. auditors)
 Frequency
 Pre-Assessment
 On-site Assessment (i.e. the Audit)
 Assessment Report
 Corrective Action
 Closure

Steps to Take
 Review assessor training manual
 Review checklist
 Internal/contractor review
 Preliminary record submittal
 SOPs
 Data package
 Other information
 Review due process rules

Your Rights Before the On-Site
 Checklist(s)
 Confidentiality notice
 Conflict of interest form
 Assessor credentials
 Mutually agreeable date

Award of Accreditation
 Certificate
 Signed by AA, effective dates, NELAC logo
 Includes fields of testing
 Must be posted

Staying Accredited
 Compliance with Chapter 5
 PTs (twice a year)
 On-site (every 2 years)
 Notification of key changes (< 30 days)
 Ownership
 Location
 Key personnel
 Instrumentation

Other Important
Information
 EH&S not included
 Use of logo
 No supplemental requirements
 Mobile laboratories
 Record retention: 5 years

SUMMARY
Know the standards
Decide to apply
Get ready
Collect information
Plan for the On–Site
Stay accredited!
NELAC
Accredited!

 NELAC Website www.epa.gov/ttn/nelac
 EPA QA Documents www.epa.gov/quality
 QAMS 005 (print only)
 QA/G-5
 QA/R-5
 EPA SOP Guidance
 OW Streamlining Appendix F (3/28/97 FR)
 QA/G-6
 Catalyst www.catalystinforesources.com
 Template Quality Manual
 SOP Guidance
 Many other related documents

Catalyst Information Resources, L.L.C.
The Information Resource for Environmental Professionals
817-598-1155 catalyst@eazy.net
www.CatalystInfoResources.com