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Table E. Data Quality Objectives and Criteria for Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing
Data Quality
Indicator
Evaluation Process
Performance Measure
MERC DQO
Bias
Experiment Bias:
Conduct
monthly reference toxicity tests on
test organisms or obtain reference
toxicity test data from the test
organism supplier(s);; ensure
proper calibration/verification and
maintenance of
equipment/analytical
instrumentation; ensure proper
sample handling to avoid
contamination
Determination of the
sensitivity of the test
organisms relative to
historical data using a
quality control chart
LC50 value within 2
standard deviations of the
historical mean LC50.
Operator Bias:
Ensure a second,
suitably-qualified operator counts
at least 10 % of samples.
Relative Percent
Difference (RPD).
< 10 % average RPD.
Representativeness Ensure test organisms are
representative of those naturally
found in Baltimore Harbor, other
test sites, and/or recommended by
the U.S. EPA. Control groups
(reference and dilution control)
and treatment groups are handled
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.