Retooling to Calculate Initial and Annual MDLs Following Revision 2 of 40CFR136 AppBOptimizing Laboratory Operations
Oral Presentation
Prepared by L. Stafford
Eurofins Environment Testing, 880 Riverside Parkway, West Sacramento, CA, 95616, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 279-200-5741
ABSTRACT
Processes to determine Method Detection Limits (MDLs) after the adoption of revision 2 of Appendix B to Part 136 require changes to include evaluation of reagent blanks as well as low-level spiked samples. Laboratories have had to determine how to collate and compare method blank data and spike data from extended time periods. In this example, the laboratory has leveraged its LIMS capability to query data for control chart purposes, expertise in evaluating the data, and resources for spreadsheet macro programming to create a tool that can perform the evaluations and create a single workbook for review. The workbook includes all data required to recreate the results as well as helpful calculations to facilitate evaluation. This talk will include a history of the process, the rules used to evaluate the data, the process used to validate the electronic workbook, and the personnel time/effort required.
