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Table B.
MERC Data Quality Objectives and Criteria for Zooplankton (Organisms >50
µ
m)
Data Quality
Indicator
Evaluation Process
Performance Measure
MERC DQO
Precision
Analyze at least two slides or two
counting wheels from every
sample collected
Coefficient of variation
(%CV).
≤ 20 % CV.
Bias
Experiment Bias: Ensure proper
calibration/verification and
maintenance of
equipment/analytical
instrumentation; ensure proper
sample handling to avoid
contamination.
N/A
N/A
Operator Bias: Ensure a second,
suitably-qualified operator
analyzes at least 10 % of treatment
discharge samples, and 10 % of
control intake and discharge
samples.
Percent Similarity (PSC)
and Relative Percent
Difference (RPD)
≥90% average PSC and
≤20%average RPD
Representativeness Ensure sample water contains
biota representative of harbor
water in terms of species
composition and richness. Ensure
pre-treatment/control and post-
treatment/treatment samples are
handled and and analyzed in the
same manner.
N/A – Qualitative term
N/A – Qualitative term
Comparability
Routine procedures are conducted
according to appropriate SOPs to
ensure consistency between tests.
Ensure correct implementation of
SOPs.
N/A – Qualitative term
N/A – Qualitative term
Completeness
Calculate percentage of valid
samples analyzed out of the total
number of samples collected.
Percent Completeness
(%C)
Greater than 90 %C.