develop consensus standards for use by TNI's programs. This group has a support role in assisting other programs with activities such as guidance and standards interpretation.
fosters the generation of data of known and documented quality is through the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, or NELAP. The purpose of this program is to establish and implement a program for the accreditation of environmental laboratories.
is to establish and maintain a national PT program to support TNI’s National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, and other activities.
Field Activities Program (NEFAP) Executive Committee is to establish and implement an accreditation program for field sampling and measurement organizations (FSMOs).
Audit Sample Program is to develop consensus standards for the manufacture and analysis of audit samples for source emission testing.
on a variety of topics of interest to the environmental measurement community. TNI also hosts two regularly scheduled meetings per year, typically in January and August. Both are a week long and involve open meetings of TNI committees as well as training courses and other special sessions.Standard Interpretation
Standard: 2003 NELAC
Section: 5.5.5.2.2.1 (d)
Link to relevant standard
REQUEST:
My question concerns the definition of a second source standard. What input variables (analyte lot, solvent lot, balance, operator, etc) must change in order for a second lot of standard to be considered to be prepared independently? Thanks for your help.
TNI FINAL RESPONSE:
(Quality Systems Expert Committee/NELAP Board, 2-19-09)
5.5.5.2.2.1 d states that a standard obtained from a second lot may be used if the lot can be demonstrated from the manufacturer as prepared independently from other lots. In our mind, this is analogous to a preparation batch being prepared with the same process, personnel and reagents during a set timeframe. Assuming the manufacturer prepares a specific quantity of standard and declares that quantity a “lot”, another lot prepared at another time would be independent of the first. The laboratory would be expected to contact the manufacturer to verify that one lot is not the same as another.