The Independent Laboratory Institute: A Collaborative Approach for the Advancement of Environmental Monitoring

Oral Presentation

Prepared by D. Kennedy1, D. Friedman2, J. Konschnik3, M. Flournoy4
1 - David Kennedy and Associates, 1583 Redford Drive, Palm Springs, CA, 92264, United States
2 - American Council of Independent Laboratories, 1875 I Street NW, Washington, DC, 20006, United States
3 - Restek Corporation, 110 Benner Circle, Bellefont, PA, 16823, United States
4 - Eurofins Frontier Global Sciences, 1170 North Creek Parkway, Bothell, WA, 98011, United States


Contact Information: [email protected]; 760-992-0655


ABSTRACT

The Independent laboratory Institute (ILI) is the research and education affiliate of the American Counsel of Independent Laboratories (ACIL). Our mission is to advance the science and practice of testing in the environmental, food, material and conformance laboratory industries. In 2013, ILI established the New Technology Incubator, a program devoted to building collaborative relationships between the testing industry, the technology innovation community, and government in order to facilitate the approval and adoption of new measurement technologies. Rather than being a consensus standards organization, ILI serves as a mechanism for government and industry to work together to solve problems of common interest.

Our first project was to develop and validate a generic protocol for use of Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) in the analysis of aqueous samples. Participants in this collaboration included USEPA Program Offices and regional laboratories, commercial testing laboratories, academia, and SPE vendors. The results of this effort will be presented elsewhere in this year’s NEMC proceedings. The project demonstrated the effectiveness of the Incubator model as a means of facilitating the adoption of new measurement technology.

Moving forward, ILI seeks to undertake new projects that will advance the practice of environmental monitoring. Such efforts can include helping demonstrate the effectiveness of new monitoring technologies, making available training in new analytical technologies to the laboratory community, as well as other approaches to mobilize private sector expertise and resources to address issues facing government and industry. Since NEMC provides a unique opportunity to reach out to all sectors of the monitoring community, the presentation will discuss potential projects that have been proposed by the laboratory community and seek your input on these projects as well as your ideas for other potential projects.