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MERC+GSI – DRAFT Test Plan
18
Quality Control for Instrument Calibration:
The test instrumentation to be used in the evaluation will be calibrated by the MERC staff
according to the SOPs for the instrumentation prior to use. A calibration log will be created for
each instrument. The logs shall include at least the following information: name of instrument,
serial number and/or identification number of instrument, date of calibration, and calibration
results. These logs shall be provided to the MERC Program Coordinator and maintained in a
master calibration file as part of the QA/QC records.
Laboratory Test Quality Control:
All analytical measurements are performed using materials and/or processes that are
traceable to a Standard Reference Material. Standard Operating Procedures are utilized to trace
all quantitative and qualitative determinations to certified reference materials. All metrology
equipment (analytical balances, thermometers, etc.) is calibrated using materials traceable to the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and maintained on a schedule to ensure
accuracy.
All volumetric glassware must be calibrated as conforming to Class A. A valid
certificate of calibration or compliance must be available for each item. If the item has been
calibrated in-house, the laboratory shall have a documented record of the calibration data
showing traceability to national standards. Since the capacity of volumetric glassware may
change with use, the calibration should be verified at regular intervals. Volumetric capacity is
normally determined gravimetrically, using water conforming to the MERC glassware
calibration Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Before starting, care will be taken to ensure
that the glassware is clean.
Field Logs:
Standard uniform field logs will be maintained for the evaluation. These logs should
report name of staff conducting fieldwork, date (month, day, and year), operating status of all
equipment, and manual readings of environmental conditions.
Field Quality Control Samples:
Field quality control samples provide information on the potential for bias due to
contamination of analytical results by sample collection, processing, shipping, and analysis. To
ensure that the field sample collection and analysis procedures are properly controlled, field
blanks and replicate samples will be taken three times during the evaluation. These will be
analyzed in the same manner as the collected samples for Chlorophyll, TSS, and POC. Field
blanks are generated under actual field conditions and will account for all sources of
contamination that might be introduced to a sample including incidental or accidental sample
contamination during the entire process of sampling, transport, sample preparation, and
processing. While field blanks mimic sample collection and processing, they do not come in
contact with ambient water.
Sample Custody:
All samples will be accompanied by the sample collection sheet and a Chain-of-Custody
(COC) form.
The COC specifies time, date, sample location, unique sample number, requested
analyses, sampler name, required turnaround time, time and date of transaction between field and
laboratory staff, and name of receiving party at the laboratory. Proper labeling of sample bottles