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MERC – Membrane Filter Test Plan
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sheet/chain-of-custody forms (see below). Copies of these raw data will be transferred to the
MERC office, which will store it permanently along with the rest of the study data.
Data Review:
All data are to be recorded directly in the field/laboratory record book as soon as they are
available. Records are to be written in water-proof ink and written legibly. Any corrections will
be initialed by the person performing the correction, will be crossed out with a line (not
blackened or white-out), and will be dated according to the date that the correction was made.
These data will include electronic data, entries in field/laboratory record books, operating data
from the MERC test facility, and equipment calibration records. Records will be spot-checked
within two weeks of the measurement to ensure that the data are recorded correctly. The checker
shall not be the individual who originally entered the data. Data entries shall be checked in
general for obvious errors and a minimum of 10 percent of all records shall be checked in detail.
Errors detected in this manner shall be corrected immediately. The person performing the
review will add his/her initials and the date to a hard copy of the record being reviewed. The
MERC staff member will place this hard copy in the files for this evaluation. In addition, data
generated by each MERC staff will be provided to the MERC Program Coordinator and
reviewed before they are used to calculate, evaluate, or report results.
6. Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Treatment and filtration performance evaluations are implemented according to the
Test/QA plans and technical documents (e.g., Standard Operating Procedures) prepared during
planning of the evaluation. Prescribed procedures and a sequence for the work are defined
during the planning stages, and work performed shall follow those procedures and sequence.
Technical procedures shall include methods to assure proper handling and care of test
instruments. All implementation activities are documented and are traceable to the Test/QA plan
and SOPs and to test personnel.
7. Roles and Responsibilities
The evaluation is coordinated and supervised by the MERC Principal Investigator,
Program Coordinator and MERC personnel. Staffs participate in this test by installing,
maintaining, and operating the respective technologies throughout the test; operating the
reference equipment, collecting the water samples, downloading the data from the instrument
package, and informing the MERC Program Coordinator staff of any problems encountered.
Manufacturer representatives shall install, calibrate, maintain, and operate the filter system. QA
oversight is provided by the MERC Program Coordinator. In addition to aiding the development
of these protocols, the MERC Advisory Board will be consulted during the evaluation in the
event problems occur, will assist in the analyses of results, and will review the final Filter
Performance Report prior to release. Specific responsibilities are detailed below.