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R9 Laboratory SOP 870
PROCESSING & REPORTING OF PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SAMPLES
Summary
The purpose of this document is to establish the procedures for handling, processing and disposal of performance evaluation (PE) samples. This SOP has been prepared in accordance with the EMMC (Environmental Monitoring Management Council) methods format as outlined in EPA QA/G-6, Guidance For The Preparation Of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) For Quality-Related Documents.
This standard operating procedure is to be followed whenever PE samples are received at the USEPA Region 9 Laboratory. The PE samples may be from external or internal sources. The laboratory is required to participate in the analysis and reporting of external source single blind PEs representative of the various EPA programs including water supply (WS), water pollution (WP), discharge monitoring report quality assurance (DMR-QA), and Contract Laboratory Program (CLP) quarterly blind (QB). These samples are provided for the various programs by vendors approved by NELAC (National Environmental Accreditation Conference). Internal PE samples will be obtained from commercial vendors or will be provided as full volume spikes by the laboratory quality assurance officer on a routine and non-routine basis at the discretion of the Laboratory Director, the ESAT Work Assignment Manager (WAM), or the Laboratory Quality Assurance Officer (LQAO). The internal PE samples may be single blind or double blind samples inserted into the normal sample stream. The Environmental Services Assistance Team (ESAT), EPA Biology and Field Services Team, and EPA Chemistry Team may conduct their own internal performance evaluations independent of this SOP.