The following 3-digit codes are the EPA-required standard codes for QA/QC
samples. These codes are used to denote sample type. If additional
codes are required, contact the GLNPO/LMMB QA Manager, Lou Blume.
| QC CODE | QC IDENTIFIER | DEFINITION
|
| CAL | concentration calibration solution (type unspecified) | A solution of method analyte(s) used to calibrate the instrument response in terms of concentration of analyte(s). Response factors rather than concentrations will be reported on the following type 30 records. |
| CH1-CHn | high laboratory check standards | High level laboratory verification standard numbers 1 to n in analytical batch. |
| CL1-CLn | low laboratory check standards | Low level laboratory verification standard numbers 1 to n in analytical batch. |
| CLB | continuing check blank | A blank solution used to check instrument background and contaminant buildup in the instument. Will appear several times during an analysis batch. |
| CLC | continuing check calibration | A calibration solution as above used to verify whether the initial calibration data are still currently valid. Will be run several times throughout the duration of the production run |
| CLD | dual purpose calibration | A calibration solution as above used both as an initial calibration (CLM or CLS) and a continuing check (CLC) |
| CLM | initial calibration - multi point | A calibration solution as above used to determine the initial calibration of an entire production run where a group of calibrations are required at different levels of method analyte concentrations. |
| CLS | initial calibration - single point | Exactly the same as CLM except only a single level of method analyte concentrations are utilized. |
| FBB | field bottle blank | Similar to trip blank but exposed to ambient field conditions and preserved in the field. |
| FBS | blank source water | An aliquot of reagent water used to establish background when measuring contamination introduced to samples from sampling apparatus. |
| FBT | field blank tubing | An aliquot of reagent water used to establish contamination introduced to samples from sampling line. |
| FCM | field control solution | An aliquot of reagent water or equivalent neutral reference material to which a known quantity(s) of method analyte(s) was added in the field. The FCM is treated as an environmental sample in all aspects in both the field and the laboratory, including addition of preservatives, reagents, internal standards, surrogates, glassware, equipment, solvents and analyses. |
| FD1 | field duplicate - first member | The first duplicate of two environmental samples taken at the same time and place under identical circumstances; the first being the routine sample (RFS). Each sample is treated identically throughout field and laboratory analytical procedures; and each is carried through the entire laboratory analytical method as applied to all other samples analyzed with the same method. |
| FD2-FD9 | field duplicate - nth member | The second through the ninth additional aliquots which logically follow FD1. If more than one aliquots are used, all names are changed from duplicates to replicates. Codes do not change. |
| FDX | field double purpose precision and accuracy sample | Used if the values are somehow different from the base routine field sample (RFS). An environmental sample which is used for both the FSO (background levels before spike ) and FD1 (first member of duplicate). |
| FFB | field filter blank | An aliquot of reagent water used to establish contamination from filter. |
| FFM | field fortified blank | An aliquot of sample matrix, known to be below detection limits for an analyte(s), to which a known quantity(s) of method analyte(s) was added in the field. The FFM is treated as an environmental sample in all aspects in the field and in the laboratory, including addition of all preservatives, reagents, internal standards, surrogates, glassware, equipment, solvents and analyses. |
| FRB | field blank | An aliquot of reagent water or equivalent neutral reference material (resin, filter) treated as an environmental sample in all aspects in both the field and the laboratory including exposure to sample collection apparatus and field ambient conditions, addition of all preservatives, reagents, internal standards, surrogates, glassware, apparatus, equipment, solvents and analyses. |
| FRM | field reference solution | An aliquot of a sample (submitted by the requester) having a certified value. These samples are usually obtained from the NBS, EMSL, etc. The concentration measured by the same analytical; procedure used for other samples is the "found" value. |
| FSF | field spiked sample - final values | The second portion of the environmental sample which was split in the field, and to which a spike was added in the field with a known concentration increment. The measurement(s) of the final concentration(s) was made according to the analytical method (FSF). |
| FSO | field spiked sample background (original) values | An environmental sample which was split in the field. The portion represented by FSP is analyzed according to the analytical method without fortification (spiking). |
| FTB | field trip blank | An aliquot of reagent water or equivalent neutral reference material (resin, filter) carried into the field but not exposed; to sample collection equipment or ambient field conditions, analyzed exactly like a RFS. Assesses contamination from sample shipping/handling. |
| IDL | instrument detection limit solution | A calibration solution (not necessarily the same solution as above), where the data are used to calculate instrument detection limits only. |
| ILB | instrument blank | Verification of calibration blank |
| LCB | laboratory calibration blank | An aliquot of reagent water, possibly adjusted in pH, but without addition of other reagents. |
| LCM | laboratory control solution | An aliquot of reagent water or equivalent neutral reference material to which a known quantity(s) of method analyte(s) was added in the laboratory. The LCM is treated as an environmental sample in all aspects in the laboratory including addition of all reagents; internal standards, surrogates, glassware, equipment, solvents, and analyses. |
| LD1 | laboratory duplicate first member | The duplicate of two aliquots of the same environmental sample; the first being the routine sample (RFS). Each aliquot is treated identically throughout a laboratory analytical procedure; and each is carried through the entire laboratory analytical method as applied to all other samples analyzed with the same method. |
| LD2-LD9 | laboratory replicate nth member | The 2nd through the 9th additional aliquots which logically follow LD1. If more than one aliquot is used, all names are changed from duplicates to replicates. Codes do not change. |
| LDB | laboratory dry blank or
laboratory procedural blank | An aliquot of solvent representing the volume used for RFS extraction treated as an environmental sample but not processed through resin or filters. |
| LDF | laboratory diluted sample - final values | An environmental sample in which the analyte(s) were measured in an independent sample aliquot before dilution (LDO), a known dilution was made, and the measurement(s) of the final concentration(s) were made according to the analytical method (LDF). |
| LDO | laboratory diluted sample background (original) values | An environmental sample which is analyzed according to the analytical method, and a single independent aliquot of the same sample is taken and diluted according to the analytical method. |
| LDX | laboratory double purpose precision and accuracy sample | An environmental sample which is used for both the LSO (background level before spike) and LD1 (first member of a duplicate). Use only if RFS has already been used for this sample and this value is somehow different. |
| LF1 | laboratory spiked sample - final - first member | An environmental sample exactly like the LSF except that duplicate aliquots were spiked, and the measurement(s) of the final concentration was made according to the analytical method (LF1). |
| LF2 | laboratory spiked sample - final - second member | The second member of the LF1/LF2 duplicate pair. |
| LFM | laboratory fortified blank | An aliquot of sample matrix, known to be below detection limits for an analyte(s), to which a known quantity(s) of method analyte(s) was added. The LFM is treated as an environmental sample in all aspects in the laboratory including addition of all reagents, internal standards, surrogates, glassware, equipment, solvents, and analyses. |
| LIM | laboratory interference check solution | Exactly like LCM; used to verify inter-element and background correction factors. |
| LIS | laboratory spiked sample - internal | An environmental sample which is analyzed according to the analytical method is fortified (spiked) with the method analyte(s) not found in the routine sample, prior to sample injection. The LIS is used to quantify the analytes of interest. |
| LMS | laboratory matrix spike | A matrix blank sample (i.e. resin, filter, clean sediment, Na2SO4, background fish) which is analyzed according to the analytical method, is fortified (spiked) with the method analyte(s) found in the routine samples, prior to laboratory processing. The LMS is treated as an environmental sample in all aspects in the laboratory including addition of all reagents, internal standards, surrogates, glassware, equipment, solvents and analyses. |
| LPC
| laboratory performance check solution | A solution of method analyte(s), surrogate(s) and/or internal standards(s) used to evaluate the performance of an instrument with respect to a defined set of criteria. |
| LPC | laboratory performance check solution | A solution of method analyte(s), surrogate(s) and/or internal standard(s) used to evaluate the performance of an instrument with respect to a defined set of criteria. |
| LPS | laboratory confirmation scan | The measurement of the spectrum or partial spectrum. |
| LRB | laboratory reagent blank or
lab matrix blank
| An aliquot of reagent water or equivalent neutral reference material (resin, filters, Na2SO4) treated as an environmental sample in all aspects in the laboratory including addition of all reagents, internal standards, surrogates, glassware, apparatus, equipment, solvents, and analyses. |
| LRS | lab reference sample | An environmental sample of the same matrix as the study sample that has a mean value established over time by the laboratory, which is carried through all or portions of the measurement process, including addition of all preservatives, reagents, internal standards, surrogates, glassware, apparatus, equipment, solvents and analyses. |
| LSB | laboratory (solvent) blank | Exactly the same as LDB except any internal standards or surrogates are omitted. |
| LSD | laboratory spike duplicate | An environmental sample exactly like the LSO except the two independent aliquots of the same sample are taken for fortification (spiking) with the method analyte(s). |
| LSF | laboratory spiked sample - final values | An environmental sample in which the analyte(s) was measured in an independent sample aliquot before spiking (LSO), a known concentration increment was made, and the measurement(s) of the final concentration(s) were made according to the analytical method (LSF). |
| LSO | laboratory spiked sample background (original) values | An environmental sample which is analyzed according to the analytical method, and a single independent aliquot of the sample is taken for fortification (spiking) with the method analyte(s). |
| LSS | Laboratory spiked sample - surrogate | An environmental sample which is analyzed according to the analytical method, is fortified (spiked) with the method analyte(s) not found in the routine sample, prior to laboratory processing. The LSS is treated as an environmental sample in all aspects in the laboratory including addition of all reagents, internal standards, surrogates, glassware, equipment, solvents, and analyses. |
| LVM | laboratory calibration verification solution | Exactly like LCM; used for calibration verification. |
| MDL | method detection limit solution | The Ultra 10 congerer standard calculated MDL values and/or pesticide/TNC/atrazine MDL values, in units comparable with RFS results. |
| MSB | matrix spike blank | An aliquot of an environmental sample with historically established mean concentrations of analytes of concern at low levels (i.e. hatchery fish) treated as an environmental sample. |
| RFS | routine field sample | Sample taken in the field to represent the population of interest. |
| SLB | spiked lab blank | An aliquot of solvent at the same volume used for a routine sample extraction including internal and surrogate standards but not processed through adsorption media (XAD-2 resin). Follows the remaining analytical method. |
| SRH | high field check standard | High level analysis verification standard initiated in field sampling |
| SRL | low field check standard | Low level analysis verification standard initiated in field sampling |
| SRM | standard reference material | An environmental sample of the same matrix as the study sample that has a certified value, which is carried through all or portions of the measurement process, including addition of all preservatives, reagents, internal standards, surrogates, glassware, apparatus, equipment, solvents and analyses. |
| SRM | standard reference material | An environmental sample of a known and certified value that can be used at various measurement stages to determine accuracy and precision of the measurement system. |
