Proficiency Testing (PT)
Samples
Overview
The OQA requires that certified laboratories successfully analyze PT Samples at prescribed intervals and that applied laboratories successfully analyze PT Samples to become certified. PT Samples contain known amounts of analytes that must be measured by a laboratory within defined acceptance ranges. The number of successful PT results required each year for a laboratory is dependent upon whether a laboratory is a NJ-ELCP or is a NJ-NELAP laboratory, and whether they are seeking certification for Water Supply (drinking water) or other programs (e.g., Water Pollution, Solid/Hazardous Waste.).
NJDEP Approved Providers
To support the PT program the OQA awarded a contract to Environmental Resource Associates (ERA) which became effective on February 16, 2009. ERA is responsible for conducting PT Studies for certified laboratories and laboratories seeking certification.
ELCP laboratories are required to participate in the State-contracted PT Studies conducted by ERA. NELAP laboratories that wish to retain their New Jersey State certification but do not want to participate in the State-contracted PT Studies may petition the OQA for an exemption. Each laboratory granted an exemption must utilize a PT Provider that meets the NJDEP PT Study requirements listed in the following paragraph. All NJDEP primary NELAP laboratories will receive an invoice for the parameters which they are certified for prior to each study. If the laboratory wishes to be exempt from the State’s study they must complete the exemption for at the top of the invoices sent to them and return it to the OQA by the dues date. The exemption form must include the name of the PT provider and study number being used to fulfill the PT requirements. The exemption must also state when the OQA will receive the results for that study from the PT provider.
All PT Samples must be purchased from an A2LA or ACLASS approved PT Provider. Also, only PT Sample results that include Verification, Homogeneity and Stability (VHS) data will be accepted by the OQA.
Additional PT Requirements for NELAP Laboratories
Please note that the NJDEP requires NELAP laboratories to perform additional PTs in the New Jersey program for analytes that are not included on the NELAC PT Fields of Testing. In order to report data for compliance purposes to the State of New Jersey, your laboratory must pass one PT Sample a year for each of these analytes. Failure to follow these requirements will cause a laboratory to be ineligible to report analytical data for samples collected in New Jersey and reported for compliance purposes. View the list of additional PTs.
PT Study Schedule Table
Program |
Invoice's sent out |
Study Begins |
Initial Drinking Water |
October |
January |
Initial Solid/Hazardous Waste |
July |
October |
Initial Waste Water |
December |
March |
Initial Clean Air |
October |
January |
Make-up Solid/Hazardous Waste |
January |
April |
Make-up Drinking Water |
April |
July |
Make-up Waste Water |
June |
September |
Make-up Clean Air |
April |
July |
PT Cost Tables (PDFs)
Make-up Studies
Under the OQA PT Samples contract, the OQA conducts make-up Studies six months after each initial PT Study. At that time, laboratories that did not obtain acceptable results, or did not submit results, in the previous Study for certified analytes will be sent an invoice for the make-up Study. In addition, in order to maintain the required NELAP PT schedule, all NJDEP primary NELAP laboratories will be sent an invoice for all certified parameters in that study. The NELAP labs that do not wish to participate in the NJDEP State contracted PT studies will again be required to submit the required exemption form. Any other laboratory that wishes to participate in a make-up Study must notify the OQA in writing at least 90 days prior to the scheduled Study date.
PT Reporting
The reporting deadlines for each PT Study are specific to that Study. Please reference the reporting instructions sent with the PT Samples from the PT Provider. Note that if you are receiving PT Samples from more than one PT Provider, the PT result reporting due date may be different for each PT Provider. Once the PT Samples are analyzed, laboratories shall submit the results directly to the PT Provider supplying the PT Samples. The PT Provider will evaluate the results and send the results to both the laboratory and the OQA.
When reporting data to a PT Provider, in addition to reporting the method description, all laboratories must report the alphanumeric NJDEP parameter code (examples: SDW02.07000, SHW02.07000, WPP02.07000) for each analyte for which it holds NJ certification. If the parameter codes are not reported the analysis will be considered not acceptable. In addition the method used to analyze the PT samples must also be reported. If an incorrect method is reported the results will also be considered unacceptable.
When reporting organic data, a result must be reported for all analytes for which the laboratory holds certification. For any organic analytes not detected in the PT Sample, the laboratory must report the result as being less than the laboratory's Method Detection Limit in order to obtain acceptable recognition of analysis for the analyte.
Water Supply (WS) PTs
For Water Supply (drinking water matrix) certification, a laboratory is required to analyze PT Samples for every method/technique for which it holds certification. For example, if a laboratory is certified in drinking water for arsenic by ICP and Furnace techniques, it is required to analyze and pass a PT Sample for arsenic by ICP, and analyze and pass a PT Sample for arsenic by Furnace, in order to retain certification for both techniques. Laboratories are permitted to analyze and report results for multiple techniques, i.e. ICP and Furnace, for the same analyte, from a single PT Sample.
Solid / Hazardous Waste PTs
The State of New Jersey requires laboratories certified in the Solid/Hazardous Waste certification program to analyze PT Samples. Laboratories that currently have USEPA SW-846 certification for solid and chemical materials (SCM) preparatory methods for Organic and Inorganic analytes are required to analyze a solid PT Sample. If a laboratory does not hold SCM certification then the laboratory is required to analyze an aqueous (non-potable water) PT Sample.
Laboratories that report sludge metals analysis for compliance purposes shall analyze the sludge PT Sample for the metals for which they hold certification.
Clean Air Program
The State of New Jersey requires laboratories certified in the Clean Air certification program to analyze PT Samples. All certified laboratories are required to pass one PT sample a year. If a laboratory does not pass the required PTs the will not be able to report regulatory data to the State. Any ELCP laboratories that do not pass one sample a year will be suspended for that analysis. Any NELAP laboratories that do not pass one sample a year will not be eligible to report data to the State of New Jersey.
Water Pollution (WP) PTs and the Discharge Monitoring Report Quality Assurance (DMRQA) Study Program
OQA WP PT results can be reported to satisfy DMRQA requirements.
Recently, the USEPA changed the timeframe for conducting annual DMR-QA studies. Effective with EPA DMR-QA 30, studies will occur in March.
Notice Regarding Proficiency Test Samples Affected by Hurricane Sandy
Any laboratories that failed to submit water pollution results for WP-212 by November 1, 2012 due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy may purchase a quick response sample for the affected parameters. Quick Response samples can be ordered from any A2LA or ACLASS approved PT provider. These Quick Response results must be submitted to the OQA no later than Friday, November 23, 2012. Any results not received by this date will result in a second failed study and a suspension of the affected parameters.
Regarding the October solid/hazardous waste studies; results for WP-213 are due November 29, 2012 and results for Soil-80 are due December 6, 2012. Any laboratory that cannot submit solid/hazardous waste results for either WP-213 by November 29, 2012 or Soil-80 by December 6, 2012 due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy may purchase a Quick Response sample for the affected parameters. Quick Response samples can be ordered from any A2LA or ACLASS approved PT provider. These Quick Response results must be submitted to the OQA no later than Friday, December 21, 2012. Any results not received by this date will result in a first failed study and the laboratory will need to participate in the April make-up study.
NOTE: ERA will replace any PT samples for WP-213 or Soil-80 destroyed by the storm at no cost to the laboratory. Laboratories should contact ERA directly for replacement samples.
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