Audit Process
The Office of Quality Assurance (OQA) audits environmental
laboratories that have applied for accreditation in either
New Jersey's Environmental Laboratory Certification Program
(ELCP) or New Jersey's National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation
Program (NELAP). Also, OQA performs audits on laboratories
that have applied for new methods. Once an initial audit has
been performed on a laboratory, the OQA will inspect the facility
on a biennial schedule to ensure that it complies with current
regulations. These regulations include N.J.A.C. 7:18, et al.
for ELCP laboratories and the most current NELAC Standards
for laboratories that are NELAP Accredited.
The audit process begins when a laboratory submits an application
in which they apply for new certification for a particular
method(s). At this stage, the laboratory is in "Applied"
Status for that method and can not perform regulatory work
until it has met all of the certification requirements. The
certification requirements include submitting a Standard Operation
Procedure (SOP), a Method Detection Limit (MDL), Precision
and Accuracy Study (P & A), acceptable Proficiency Test
(PT) results, and have participated in a satisfactory audit.
In addition, if a laboratory is participating in the NELAP
program, a Quality Manual that satisfies all of the requirements
listed in the NELAC standards must be submitted to the OQA.
Once a SOP, MDL Study, P & A Study, and acceptable PT
results are submitted to the OQA, an auditor will contact
the laboratory to schedule the audit. The audit usually consists
of two parts, the in-house audit and the on-site audit. The
in-house audit involves an OQA review of all the information
submitted from the laboratory (i.e.-SOPs, MDLs, etc.). The
on-site audit involves one or more auditors visiting the facility
to ensure that the laboratory has the appropriate personnel,
equipment and capabilities to perform the method requested.
Any deficiencies noted at the time of the audit are presented
to the laboratory in a formal letter within 30 calendar days
following the audit. The laboratory has 30 calendar days to
respond to the deficiencies. If the laboratory response is
deemed acceptable, then the laboratory is granted accreditation.
CLP Accreditation
Contract Laboratory Program Update (Organics)
The Office of Quality Assurance (OQA) will commence
certifying laboratories for the USEPA Contract Laboratory
Program Multi-Media, Multi-Concentration Statement of Work
(SOW) for Organic Analysis; SOM01.0 dated August 2004 for
Fiscal Year 2006. The OQA will withdraw the previous Multi-Media,
Multi-Concentration Statement of Work for Organic Analysis,
OLM04.3 from its ELCP and NJ NELAP programs effective July
1, 2005.
The new statement of work adds a new protocol for the analysis
of trace volatile organic compounds, and has separated the
pesticide and Aroclor analyses into separate analyses. The
new SOW requires laboratories to possess the ability to perform
both selected ion monitoring (SIM) and routine GC/MS analyses.
Therefore, in order to become New Jersey “Certified,”
the laboratory must possess the required SIM and routine scanning
capabilities, and submit revised CLP SOPs, MDL studies, and
PT samples results for PT samples analyzed according to the
new analytical protocols.
Laboratories may obtain the new SOW at: www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/clp/som1.htm
Contract Laboratory Program Update (Inorganics)
The OQA will commence certifying laboratories for
the USEPA Contract Laboratory Program Multi-Media, Multi-Concentration
Statement of Work for Inorganic Analysis; ILM05.3 (final version
updated in March 2004) for Fiscal Year 2006. The OQA will
withdraw the previous Multi-Media, Multi-Concentration Statement
of Work for Inorganic Analysis, IlM05.2 from its ELCP and
NJ NELAP programs effective July 1, 2005.
Laboratories certified for ILM05.2 and wishing to maintain
CLP certification under the new SOW (ILM05.3) must submit
the following:
- Submittal of a summary data package (reporting forms
only) with a copy of the digestion log of a soil sample
analyzed by the new CLP SOW.
- Submittal of the Form IX-IN (Method Detection Limits)
for the water matrix for all preparation methods and techniques.
- Statement that the laboratory has updated all of the
applicable SOPs to reference the new SOW (ILM05.3).
Laboratories not currently certified under the CLP program
must submit the above information and will require an on-site
audit prior to attaining certification.
Laboratories may obtain the new SOW at: www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/clp/ilm5.htm
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