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Approved by:

Technical Director


______________________________ (Name) ______________________________ (Signature)


_______________ (Initials) _________________ (Date)


Quality Assurance Officer


______________________________ (Name) ______________________________ (Signature)


_______________ (Initials) _________________ (Date)
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Revision History

Rev Date Description of Change

1 9/5/07 Name Initial Release
2 01/13/13 Name Updated all sections. Reformatted
Appendix A.


Distribution List / Location

This SOP is to be distributed to those individuals involved in the internal audit process of
the lab.
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Annual Review (The review is to be documented if the document has not been revised in
the past 12 months)

_______________________ ____________________ _______
Signature Title Date

______________________ ____________________ _______
Signature Title Date

___________________ ____________________ _______
Signature Title Date

______________________ ____________________ _______
Signature Title Date

___________________ ____________________ _______
Signature Title Date

Training Record
The following laboratory staff have read and agree to follow the latest version of the SOP.
_____________________ ______________________ _______ _______
Signature Name Initials Date

_____________________ ______________________ _______ _______
Signature Name Initials Date

_____________________ ______________________ _______ _______
Signature Name Initials Date

_____________________ ______________________ _______ _______
Signature Name Initials Date

_____________________ ______________________ _______ _______
Signature Name Initials Date
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Table of Contents

1. Purpose ........................................................................................................................... 5
2. Scope............................................................................................................................... 5
3. Responsibilities................................................................................................................ 5
4. Procedure ....................................................................................................................... 6
5. Related Documentation and References ...................................................................... 8
6. Definitions ....................................................................................................................... 8
APPENDIX A ..................................................................................................................... 9

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1. Purpose

To ensure that the procedures in the quality manual, related to quality systems, and
the labs method manual, related to testing activities, are being followed.

To determine the effectiveness of the labs procedures in controlling the quality of
data reported

To identify, correct, and implement any changes needed in any of the quality system
and testing activities procedures found to be deficient

To ensure all deficiencies in the labs quality system and testing activities are
documented though its corrective action process

2. Scope

The internal audit SOP and associated checklist is used to audit, on an annual basis, the
labs quality system, policies and procedures, work instructions, analytical records, and
reports. In addition, the lab audits its testing activities (each method-technology) on an
annual basis.

3. Responsibilities

Quality Assurance (QA) Manager or QA Officer (QAO):
is knowledgeable and trained in quality system requirements, including internal
audits
initiates all internal audits and ensures they are conducted in an efficient and
timely manner
delegates responsible, trained staff, if applicable, to carry out specific audits of
testing activities
notifies laboratory management , including the technical director, of any
deficiencies (findings) in the quality system or testing activities
documents and monitors corrective actions
documents and tracks staff who have completed auditor training

Auditor:
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has completed auditor training
has sufficient experience in performing audits
performs audits in an efficient and timely manner
reports all findings to the QAO
4. Procedure

4.1 The Audit Team

The Quality Assurance Manager or QA Officer (QAO) selects trained staff, if applicable,
to perform the audits defined in this procedure. If trained staff is limited, the QAO and/or
technical director may perform the audits. If trained staff is not limited, the QAO will
designate one of the trained staff to serve as the lead auditor. When ever possible,
auditors are selected from a function not directly involved in the audit.

4.2 Training

Auditors are trained in auditing techniques. Training consists of reading and
understanding this procedure and reference material related to internal auditing, and
where possible, shadowing a trained auditor or completing a formal, external training
course. The auditors are also provided with the applicable auditing guidelines and
checklists. Both quality system and method-specific checklists are to be provided to the
auditor.

Evidence of the training includes a signature that the auditor has read and understands
this procedure (see page 3). It may also include documentation of any external seminars
or course work related to quality system auditing. All training records are to be kept for a
minimum of five years.

4.3 Audit Plan

The entire quality system, including testing activities, is audited on an annual basis. The
maximum interval between audits is twelve months. The frequency may be adjusted for
new procedures or deficiencies that resulted from complaints.

The QAO creates the audit schedule. The audit schedule defines the following:
timeframe of the audit
scope of audit
elements and/ or areas to be audited
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4.4 Performing the Audit

The QAO notifies the supervisors of the areas to be audited at least a month in advance.
The QAO briefs the auditors on the audit procedures and the areas to be audited. The
auditors are to prepare prior to the audit by familiarizing themselves with the audit
procedures.

During the audit, auditors use applicable checklists. They record all findings on the
checklists. The findings are discussed with the staff responsible for performing the
function that was found to be deficient.

4.5 Deficiency Report and Corrective Action Response

A deficiency report is generated by the auditor for each legitimate finding. The QAO
makes the final decision as to whether the finding is legitimate if it can not be resolved
between the auditor and the staff audited. The QAO presents the final report to the
audited staff, as well as, laboratory management, including the technical director.

The audited staff responds to the deficiency report in a manner prescribed by the labs
corrective action procedures, which are included in the Quality Manual. The corrective
action must be completed within 90 days of the date of the finding.

When deficiencies cast doubt on the correctness or validity of the calibration or test
results reported, the lab needs to immediately notify its clients of the situation. A record
of the client notification must be maintained.

4.6 Closing an Audit

Audit findings are closed upon completion of an effective corrective action for each of
the findings. All documents related to the audit, including checklists, deficiency reports,
corrective action responses, are maintained by the QAO.

4.7 Review and Evaluation

The QAO verifies successful implementation of the corrective action by observing
objective evidence supplied by the audited staff as part of the corrective action process.
Follow-up is performed by the QAO, or designated staff, as part of the next scheduled
audit to verify the effectiveness of the corrective actions that were implemented. IN
addition, the QAO reviews the audit report with laboratory management, including the
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technical director, as part of the labs annual management review.

5. Related Documentation and References

Audit Plan
Audit Checklists, including method-specific checklists
Deficiency (Audit) Report
Corrective Action Response (CAR)
Corrective Action Procedures as noted in Quality Manual

National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC), 2003 NELAC Standard,
Approved June 5, 2003, Effective July 1, 2003, 324 pp (EPA/600/R-04/003).

National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC), 2009 NELAC Standard,
Approved August 24, 2009, Effective July 1, 2011.

New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) Environmental Laboratory Approval Program
(ELAP), method-specific checklists,
http://www.wadsworth.org/labcert/elapcert/appforms.htm

New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH), NYCRR Subpart 55-2, Approval of
Laboratories Performing Environmental Analysis, Sections 55-2.1 through 55-2.12 effective
November 17, 2004, and Section 55-2.13 effective October 6, 2004.
6. Definitions

Audit Finding - A conclusion of importance based on observation(s). An undesirable
deviation or nonconformity.

Corrective Action - Action taken to eliminate the root cause(s) and the symptom(s) of an
existing undesirable deviation or nonconformity to prevent recurrence.

Objective Evidence - Verifiable qualitative or quantitative observations, information,
records, or statements of fact pertaining to the quality of a product or service or to the
existence and implementation of quality system element.

Quality Audit - Systematic and independent examination to determine whether quality
activities and related results comply with planned arrangements and whether these
arrangements are implemented effectively and are suitable to achieve objectives
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APPENDIX A
TOPIC Y N N/A Comments
Organization & Management
1.) Does the laboratory have a policy to ensure its personnel are
free from any commercial, financial and other undue pressures,
which might adversely affect the quality of the work?

2.) Does the laboratory specify and document the responsibility,
authority, and interrelation of all personnel who manage, perform
or verify work affecting the quality of calibrations and tests in job
descriptions for all positions.

3.) Does the laboratory have documented certifications that
personnel performing all tests for which the laboratory is
accredited have the appropriate educational and/or technical
backgrounds?

4.) Does the laboratory nominate deputies in the case of absence
of the technical director or QA officer?

5.) Does the laboratory have documented policies and procedures
to ensure the protection of clients' confidential information and
proprietary rights?

Quality System
1.) Is the quality documentation available to, understood by, and
implemented by all laboratory personnel?

2.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
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include the objectives and commitments by top management?
3.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include the organization and management structure of the
laboratory, its place in any parent organization, and relevant
organizational charts?

4.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include procedures to ensure that all records required under
NELAC are retained?

5.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include procedures for control and maintenance of
documentation through a document control system which ensures
that all standard operating procedures, manuals, or documents
clearly indicate the time period during which the procedure or
document was in force?

6.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include procedures for achieving traceability of measurements?

7.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include a list of all methods under which the laboratory performs
its accredited testing?

8.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include mechanisms for ensuring that the laboratory reviews all
new work to ensure that it has the appropriate facilities and
resources before commencing such work?

9.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include reference to the calibration and/or verification test
procedures used?

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10.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include procedures for handling submitted samples?

11.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include reference to the major equipment and reference
measurement standards used as well as the facilities and services
used by the laboratory in conducting tests?

12.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include reference to procedures for calibration, verification and
maintenance of equipment?

13.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include reference to verification practices including inter-
laboratory comparisons, proficiency testing programs, use of
reference materials, and internal quality control schemes?

14.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include procedures to be followed for feedback and corrective
action for failed quality control samples, or when departures from
documented policies, procedures, or NELAC standards occur?

15.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include procedures for dealing with complaints?

16.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include processes/procedures for establishing that personnel are
adequately experienced in the duties they are expected to carry out
and/or receive any needed training?

17.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include processes and procedures for educating and training

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personnel in their ethical and legal responsibilities including the
potential punishments and penalties for improper, unethical, or
illegal actions?
18.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include reference to procedures for reporting analytical results?

19.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include a Table of Contents, and applicable lists of references and
glossaries, and appendices?

20.) Does the QA officer keep the quality manual current?
21.) Does the QA officer arrange for or conduct internal audits on
the entire technical operation annually and notify laboratory
management of deficiencies in the quality system and monitor
corrective action

22.) Where a complaint, or any other circumstance, raises doubt
concerning the laboratory's compliance with the laboratory's
policies or procedures, or with the requirements of this Standard
or otherwise concerning the quality of the laboratory's calibrations
or tests, does the laboratory ensure that those areas of activity and
responsibility involved are promptly audited?

23.) Does the laboratory have a procedure for the annual
management review of the quality system?

24.) Is an annual review of the quality system completed by
management to evaluate its continuing suitability and
effectiveness and make any necessary changes or improvements?

25.) Does the annual review take into account reports from
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managerial and supervisory personnel, the outcome of recent
internal audits, assessments by external bodies, the results of
interlaboratory comparisons or proficiency tests, any changes in
in the volume and type of work undertaken, feedback from
clients, corrective actions and other relevant factors?
26.) Are all audits and review findings and any corrective actions
that arise from them documented?

27.) Does the laboratory management ensure that corrective
actions are discharged within the agreed time frame?

28.) Does the laboratory implement checks to monitor the quality
of laboratory results using:
_a__ Internal quality control procedures (using statistical
techniques whenever possible);
_b__ Participation in PT or other interlaboratory comparisons;
_c__ Reference material and/or in-house quality control using
secondary reference materials;
_d__ Replicate testing;
_e__ Re-testing of retained samples; and/or
_f__ Correlation of results for different parameters of a sample.

29.) Does the laboratory have general procedures to be followed
when there are departures from documented policies, procedures,
and QC have occurred?

30.) Do the procedures to be followed when there is a departure
from documented policies, procedures, and QC include but not
limited to:
a___ Identify the individuals responsible for assessing each QC

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data type;
b___ Identify the individuals responsible for initiating and/or
recommending corrective actions;
c___ Define how the analyst should treat the data set if the
associated QC measurements are unacceptable;
d___ Specify how out-of-control situations and subsequent
corrective actions are to be documented; and
e___ Specify procedures for management (including the QA
officer) to review corrective action reports.
31.) Is a corrective action log maintained, up-to-date?
32.) If a QC measure is out of control and the data is to be
reported, are data qualifiers reported with samples associated with
failed QC measures?

33.) Are all quality control measures assessed and evaluated on an
on-going basis, and quality control acceptance limits used to
determine the usability of the data?

34.) Does the laboratory have procedures for the development of
acceptance/rejection criteria where no method or regulatory
criteria exist?

35.) Are the quality control protocols specified by the laboratorys
method manual followed?


Training
1.) Are training records available for all technical staff that
include:
a___ Evidence that the employee has read, understands, and is

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using the latest version of the labs in-house quality
documentation;
b___ Training courses or workshops on specific equipment,
analytical techniques, or lab procedures;
c___ Training courses in ethical and legal responsibilities
including the potential punishments & penalties for violations.
d___ Evidence that the employee has read; acknowledges, and
understands their personal & legal responsibilities including
potential punishments & penalties for violations; and
e___ Documentation certifying that the employee has read,
understands, and agrees to use the latest version of a test method
used; and
2.0 Are initial demonstrations, continuing demonstrations and
method certification documented through the use of the forms in
the latest approved NELAC document in Appendix C?

3.) Does the laboratory use another approach, documented in its
Quality Manual, to demonstrate capability for analytes for which
spiking is not an option and for which quality control samples are
not readily available?

4.) Does the laboratory retain all associated supporting data
necessary to reproduce the analytical results summarized in the
IDC certification statement?

5.) Is a copy of the initial demonstration of Capability Certificate
(IDC) in the personnel records for each employee performing a
test method?

6.) Do the training records of each of the technical staff include
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documentation of continuing proficiency by at least one of the
following:
___ Acceptable performance of a blind sample;
___ Another demonstration of capability;
___ Successful analysis of a blind performance sample on a
similar test method using the same technology; a
___ Analysis of at least 4 consecutive lab control samples with
acceptable levels of precision and accuracy; or
___ If one of the above can be performed, the analysis of
authentic samples that have been analyzed by another trained
analyst with statistically indistinguishable results.
7.) Does the laboratory complete a new demonstration of
capability whenever there is a significant change in instrument
type, personnel, or test method?

8.) Has the laboratory management developed a proactive
program for the detection of improper, unethical, or illegal
actions?

Equipment
1.) Are maintenance procedures documented?
2.) Is each item of equipment including reference materials
labeled, marked or otherwise identified to indicate its calibration
status, when appropriate?

3.) Are maintenance records available?
Support Equipment Calibration and Traceability
1.) Does the laboratory have an established program for the
calibration and verification of its measuring and test equipment

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including balances, thermometers and control standards?
2.) Are measurements made by the labs traceable to national
standards of measurement where available?

3.) Does the laboratory maintain records of all certificates that
indicate traceability to national standards of measurement and/or
statements of compliance with an identified metrological
specification?

4.) Is all support equipment calibrated annually, using NIST
traceable references when available, over the entire range in
which the equipment is used?

5.) Are the results of support equipment calibration within the
specifications required of the application for which it is used?

6.) Is support equipment removed from service until repaired or
is a deviation curve prepared and all measurements corrected for
the deviation when the calibration is not within acceptance limits?

7.) Does the laboratory maintain records of established correction
factors to correct measurements?

8.) Are all raw data records retained to document equipment
performance?

9.) Prior to use on each working day, are balances, ovens,
refrigerators, freezers, incubators and water baths checked with
NIST traceable references (where possible) in the expected use
range?

10.) Are mechanical volumetric devices checked for accuracy on
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on a quarterly basis?
11.) Demonstration of sterilization for biological tests provided by
use of a continuous temperature recording or with the frequent
use of spore strips?

SOPS and Test Methods
1.) Does the laboratory have SOPs for all test methods?
2.) Are all instructions, standards, manuals and reference data
relevant to the work of the laboratory maintained up-to-date and
readily available to the staff?

3.) Are copies of SOPs assessable to all personnel?
4.) Does each SOP clearly indicate:
a___ Effective date of the SOP
b___ Revision number
c___ Signature(s) of approving authority

5.) Does the laboratory have an in-house method manual for each
accredited analyte or test method that clearly describes the labs
method?

6.) In cases where modifications are made to published methods
or where the reference test method is ambiguous or provides
insufficient detail, are any modifications, changes, or
clarifications clearly indicated?

7.) Are the practices specified by the laboratorys method manual
followed by all analysts?

8.) Are all essential quality control measures incorporated in the
labs method manual?

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9.) Are all quality control measures assessed and evaluated on an
on-going basis?

10.) Does the laboratory have procedures for developing
acceptance/rejection criteria for each test method?

11.) Do the SOPs or the test method SOP reference the details of
the initial calibration procedures, including calculations
integrations, and acceptance criteria associated statistics?

12.) Is the criteria for the acceptance of an initial calibration
established (correlation coefficient or relative percent difference)?

13.) Are the details of the continuing instrument calibration
procedure, calculations, and associated statistics included or
referenced in the test method SOP?

14.) Does the laboratory establish Standard Operating Procedures
to ensure that the reported data is free from transcription and
calculation errors?

15.) Does the laboratory establish Standard Operating Procedures
to ensure that all quality control measures are reviewed, and
evaluated before data is reported?

16.) Are calculations and data transfers subject to checks as
established in the laboratorys SOP?

17.) Do documented procedures exist for the purchase, reception
and storage of consumable materials used for the technical
operations of the laboratory?

18.) Does the laboratory retain records for all standards, including
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including manufacturer/vendor, the manufacturers Certificate of
of Analysis or purity (if supplied), date of receipt, recommended
recommended storage conditions, and an expiration date after
which the material shall not be used unless verified by the
laboratory?
19.) Are original reagent containers labeled with the expiration
date?

20.) Are detailed records maintained on reagent and standard
preparation?

21.) Do the records of reagent and standard preparation indicate
traceability to purchased stocks or neat compounds, and include
the date of preparation and preparer's initials?

22.) Are containers of prepared reagents and standards uniquely
identified and include an expiration date and can it be linked to
the documentation of its preparation?

Sample Handling
1.) Does the laboratory have a documented system for uniquely
identifying the items to be tested, to ensure that there can be no
confusion regarding the identity of such items at any time?

2.) Does the laboratory assign a unique identification (ID) code to
each sample container received in the laboratory?

3.) Is the laboratory ID code placed on the sample container as a
durable label?

4.) Is the laboratory ID code entered into the laboratory records
(see 5.11.3.d) and does the link that associate the sample with

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related laboratory activities such as sample preparation or
calibration?
5.) Does the laboratory have a written sample acceptance policy
that clearly outlines the circumstances under which samples will
be accepted?

6.) Is data from any sample which does not meet the policy
criteria flagged in an unambiguous manner clearly defining the
nature and substance of the variation?

7.) Is the sample acceptance policy made available to sample
collecting personnel and does it include at a minimum all the
policy criteria?

8.) Upon receipt, is the condition of the sample, including any
abnormalities or departures from standard condition as prescribed
in the relevant test method, recorded?

9.) Are all items specified in sample acceptance policy criteria
checked?

10.) Are all samples, which require thermal preservation,
considered acceptable if the arrival temperature is either within
+/-2C of the required temperature or in the method specified
range?

11.) For samples with a specified temperature of 4C, are samples
maintained within a temperature of just above freezing to 6C?

12.) In cases where samples are hand delivered to the laboratory
laboratory immediately after collection and do not meet the

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temperature criteria considered acceptable, is there evidence that
that the chilling process has begun such as arrival on ice?
13.) Does the laboratory have procedures for checking chemical
preservation using readily available techniques, such as pH, free
chlorine or temperature, prior to or during sample preparation or
analysis?

14.) Does the laboratory implement procedures for checking
chemical preservation using readily available techniques, such as
pH, free chlorine or temperature, prior to or during sample
preparation or analysis?

15.) Are the results of all checks recorded?
16.) If the sample does not meet the sample receipt acceptance
criteria does the laboratory do any of the following:
___ Retain correspondence and/or records of conversations
concerning the final disposition of rejected
___ Fully document any decision to proceed with the analysis of
samples not meeting acceptance criteria
___ Is the condition of these samples, at a minimum, noted on
the chain of custody or transmittal form and laboratory receipt
documents?
___ Is the analysis data of these samples appropriately "qualified"
on the final report?

17.) Does the laboratory utilize a permanent, sequential log, such
as a logbook or electronic record, to document receipt of all
sample containers?

18.) Is the following information recorded in the laboratory
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chronological log?
a___ Client/Project Name
b___ Date and time of laboratory receipt of sample
c___ Unique laboratory ID code (see 5.11.1)
d___ Signature or initials of the person making the entries
19.) Are samples stored away from all standards, reagents, food
and other potentially contaminating sources in such a manner as
to prevent cross contamination?

20.) Are samples, sample fractions, extracts, leachates or other
sample preparation fractions stored according to the conditions
specified by preservation protocols or according to the test
method?

21.) Does the laboratory have standard operating procedures for
the disposal of samples, digestates, leachates and extracts or other
sample preparation products?

Records
1.) Does the laboratory retain on record all original observations,
calculations and derived data, calibration records and a copy of
the test report for five years?

2.) Does the record keeping system allow historical reconstruction
of all laboratory activities that produced the resultant sample
analytical data?

3.) Is the history of the sample readily understood through the
documentation including inter-laboratory transfers of samples
and/or extracts?

4.) Do the records include the identity of personnel involved in
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sampling, preparation, calibration or testing?
5.) Are all documentation entries signed or initialed by
responsible staff with the reason for the signature or initial clearly
indicated in the records? (Ex. sampled by, prepared by,
reviewed by)

6.) Are all generated data, except those that are generated by
automated data collection systems, recorded directly, promptly
and legibly in permanent ink?

7.) Are entries in records not obliterated by methods such as
erasures, overwritten files or markings?

8.) Are all corrections to record-keeping errors made by one line
marked through the error and the individual making the
correction signing (or initialing) and dating the correction?

9.) Do records that are stored or generated by computers or
personal computers (PCS) have hard copy or write-protected
backup copies?

10.) Does the laboratory have a record management system for
control of laboratory notebooks; instrument logbooks; standards
logbooks; and records for data reduction, validation storage and
reporting?

11.) Is access to archived information documented with an access
log?

12.) Is archived information protected against fire, theft, loss,
environmental deterioration, and vermin and, in the case of
electronic records, electronic or magnetic sources?

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Reports
1.) Does the test report contain all information necessary for the
interpretation of the test results and all information required by
the method used?

2.) Does the facility management ensure that the appropriate
report items are in the report to the regulatory authority if the
report is prepared by another individual within the organization.

3.) Where the certificate or report contains results of tests
performed by sub-contractors, are these results clearly identified
by subcontractor name or applicable accreditation number?

4.) Does the laboratory certify that the test results meet all
requirements of NELAC or provide reasons and/or justification if
they do not?

Chemistry Quality Control
(To be used with the method checklist)
1.) Is a method blank performed 1 per batch, per matrix type per
sample extraction or preparation method?

2.) Is the analysis stopped, corrected and the problem eliminated
if the blank contamination is greater than 1/10th of the measured
sample contamination or 1/10th of the regulatory limit; or are the
results reported with appropriate data qualifying codes?

3.) Is an LCS (a sample matrix free of analytes of interest spiked
spiked with a verified known amount of analyte) analyzed at a

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minimum of 1 per batch of 20 or less samples per matrix, per
sample extraction or preparation method except for analytes for
which spiking solutions are not available?
4.) Is a matrix spike (sample prepared by adding a known mass
of target analyte to a specific amount of matrix sample)
performed at a frequency of 1 in 20 samples per matrix, per
sample extraction or preparation method?

5.) Is a matrix spike duplicate (MSD) or laboratory duplicate
performed at a frequency of 1 in 20 samples per matrix, per
sample extraction or preparation method?

6.) Is the initial instrument calibration used directly for
quantitation?

7.) Is the continuing instrument calibration verification used to
confirm the continued validity of the initial calibration?

8.) Are all initial calibrations verified with a standard obtained
from a second source?

9.) If the results of samples are not bracketed by the initial
calibration, are the results reported as having less certainty
(defined qualifiers, flags, or explanation in the case narrative)?

10.) Is the lowest calibration standard of the initial calibration
above the detection limit?

11.) When an initial calibration is not performed on the day of
analysis, does the laboratory verify the validity of the initial
calibration prior to the analysis of samples by analyzing a
continuing instrument calibration verification sample?

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12.) Is continuing instrument calibration verification repeated at
the beginning and end of each analytical batch? (If an internal
standard is used, only one continuing calibration verification must
be analyzed per analytical batch)

13.) Are the concentrations of the continuing calibration standard
varied within the established calibration range?

14.) Are sufficient raw data records retained to permit
reconstruction of the initial calibration including:
a___ Calibration date
b___ Test method
c___ Instrument
d___ Analysis date
e___ Each analyte name
f___ Concentration
g___ Response
h___ Calibration curve or response factor

15.) Does the laboratory use detection limits that are determined
by the protocol in the mandated test method or applicable
regulation?

16.) Is the quality of water sources monitored and documented to
meet method specified requirements?

Quality Control for Bacteriology
(To be used with the method checklist)
1.) Are temperatures of incubators and water baths recorded twice
daily (morning & afternoon) as required by the methods as
indicated below:

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a. ____ Total Coliform bacteria incubation at 35.0 +/- 0.5
degrees Celsius (SM9221B, SM9221D, SM9222B
& EPA-600/8-78-017)
b. ____ Fecal Coliform bacteria incubation at 44.5 +/- 0.2
degrees Celsius (SM9221E, SM9222D, & EPA-
600/8-78-017)
c. ____ Total Coliform & Escherichia coli (E. coli)
incubation at 35.0 +/- 0.5 degrees Celsius (SM9223
+ UV; Colilert, Idexx-18, & Colisure)
d. ____ E. coli incubation at 44.5 +/- 0.2 degrees Celsius
(EC with MUG or Nutrient Agar with MUG)
2.) Is the following support equipment associated with
microbiological testing checked with NIST traceable materials
(where possible)
a. ____ pH meter
b. ____ Balance(s)
c. ____ Conductivity meter
d. ____ Refrigerator(s) for sample storage and/or media
storage
e. ____ Incubators
f. ____ Water baths

3.) Is a minimum of one uninoculated control prepared and
analyzed?

4.) When the same equipment is used to prepare multiple samples
samples does the laboratory prepare at least one blank at the

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beginning, one at the end, with additional blanks inserted after
every 10 samples?
5.) Is a known negative culture analyzed with each set of samples.
6.) Is each lot of media tested on a monthly basis with at least one
pure culture of a known positive reaction (positive control)? (Not
required if the laboratory has at least one known positive result of
the appropriate organism during the month).

7.) Is the positive control test tested with a sample test batch?
8.) Are at least 5% of the suspected positive samples analyzed in
duplicate?

9.) In laboratories with more than one analyst performs the testing
does each analyst make parallel analyses on at least one positive
sample per month?

10.) Are the calculations, data reduction and statistical
interpretations specified by each method followed?

11.) Where the method specifies colony counts, such as
membrane filter or colony counting, is the ability of individual
analysts to count colonies verified at least once per month, by
having two or more analysts count colonies from the same plate?

12.) In order to demonstrate traceability and selectivity, does the
laboratory use reference cultures of microorganisms obtained
from a recognized national collection or an organization
recognized by the assessor body?

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Date: 01/24/13 Page: 30 of 30

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13.) Are the graduations of the temperature measuring devices
appropriate for the required accuracy of measurement?

14.) Are records maintained on all laboratory reagent water
monitoring activities as below when dilution water and/or media
are prepared in house:
a_ Residual Chlorine < 1.0 mg/L.
b_ Conductivity < 2.0 umho/cm at 25 degrees Celsius
c_ Heterotrophic Plate Count < 1000 cfu per mL.
d_ Bacteriological ratio 0.8 3.0.
e_ Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn each < 0.05 mg/L, collectively <
0.1 mg/L.
f_ Records maintained for the past five years?