Appendix 3: HZRESULT Valid Values

RESULTTYPE – Type and Descriptions
• A - Analyte - refers to one of a group of targeted compounds that share similar characteristics (e.g. Volatile Organics) that can be anticipated to show up in a sample. Calibration of the laboratory instrument, using the target analyte or a compound with similar properties (a surrogate), allows for accurate measurement of the concentration of the compound and  a threshold of detection (the Reporting Limit) below which the substance cannot be measured with the same level of accuracy.

• P - Parameter - refers to characteristics of a sample (e.g. pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Alkalinity) or to classes or summations of contaminants (e.g. total Phenolics) or to radioactive characteristics (e.g. Gross alpha) or to various fuel oils (e.g. #2 Fuel Oil).
• T - Tentatively Identified Compound (TIC) – A substance detected from a sample, that when measured against a “Library” of known substances exhibits characteristics similar to the known substance. It is reflected in terms of probability of matching with one (or more of the) Library substance(s). Since it was not expected in the list of targeted compounds, no calibration standards were used to measure specifically for the compound and no Reporting Limit can be assigned.
• S - Surrogate - A Quality Assurance/Quality Control (Q/QC) substance used for measuring the performance of the analytical instrument that is added to the sample during analysis.
• I - Internal Standard - describes a Q/QC substance used for measuring the performance of the analytical instrument that is added to the sample during analysis.
• L - Laboratory generated quality control sample - Use “L” for any laboratory-generated quality control sample that measures the performance of an analytical instrument. The "L" code will distinguish these samples from an environmental contaminant.  Some possible “L” values are listed in Appendix 3.5 as clarification.

FILTUNFILT – Type and Descriptions
• U - Unfiltered
• F - Filtered

QAQUAL – Type and Descriptions
• Organic
  • U-Indicates the compound was analyzed for but not detected. The sample method detection limit should be corrected for dilution and percentage moisture where required by the specific analytical method
  • J-Indicates an estimated value. Use this flag under the following circumstances:
    1. When estimating the concentration for a tentatively identified compound (TIC) where a 1:1 response ratio is assumed, OR
    2. When the mass spectral and retention time data indicate the presence of a compound that meets volatile and/or semi-volatile GC/MS identification criteria, and the result is less than the method detection limit but greater than zero, OR
    3. When the retention time data indicates the presence of a compound that meets the pesticide/Aroclor criteria and the result is less than the method detection limit but greater than zero.

       NOTE: The "J" reporting flag shall not be used, and the compound not reported as identified for pesticide/Aroclor results less than the method detection limit, if the technical judgment of the pesticide residue analysis specialist determines that the peak used for compound identification is from instrument noise or other interferences. Use the sample method detection limit corrected for dilution and percent moisture where required by the specific analytical method.

  • N-Indicates presumptive evidence of a compound. Use only for tentatively identified compounds, where the identification is based on a mass spectral library search. Apply to all TIC results. Do not use for generic characterizations, such as "unknown chlorinated hydrocarbon."
  • P-Use for pesticide/Aroclor target analytes with greater than 25% difference for detected concentrations between the two GC columns. Report the lower of the two values and flag with this code.
  • C-Use for pesticide identification confirmed by GC/MS analysis. If the attempted confirmation is unsuccessful, do not use this flag. Use another flag defined by your laboratory for explanations.
  • B-Use if the analyte is found in the blank as well as the sample. It indicates probable blank contamination. It warns the data user to take appropriate actions. Use for both positively identified and tentatively identified target compounds.
  • E-Use for identification of compounds with concentrations exceeding the GC/MS calibration range for that specific analysis. Dilute the sample if one or more of the compounds has a response greater than full scale, and reanalyze. Flag such compounds with "E." If the dilution of the extract caused any compound identified in the first analysis to fall below the calibration range in the second analysis, flag the results for the second analysis "D." Affix the "DL" suffix to the sample number of the diluted sample and report both analyses.
  • D-Use for identification of compounds in an analysis at a secondary dilution factor. Flag if a sample or extract is reanalyzed at a higher dilution factor. Flag the reanalyzed sample or extract with "DL." This alerts the user that there are discrepancies between reported concentrations possibly due to the dilution.
  • A-Indicates that the tentatively identified compound is a suspected aldol condensation product.
• Inorganic
  • E-The reported value is estimated because of interference. Include an explanatory note in the nonconformance summary if the problem applies to all the samples, or in the individual form if it is an isolated problem.
  • M-Duplicate injection precision not met.
  • N-Spiked sample recovery not within control limits.
  • S-Reported value determined by the "Method of Standard Additions" (MSA).
  • W-Post digestion spike for Furnace AA analysis not within control limits, absorbance is less than 50% of the spike absorbance.
  • *-Duplicate analysis not within control limits.
  • X-Ion chromatographic peaks outside the 5% acceptance window.
  • +-Correlation coefficient for the MSA is less than 0.995.

QUANTTYPE – Type and Descriptions
• PQL -Practical Quantitation Level
• CRQL -Contract Required Quantitation Level
• CRDL -Contract Required Detection Limit
• MDA -Minimum Detectable Activity (Radiochemistry)
• IDL -Instrument Detection Limit
• RL -Reporting Limit
• RL-PPBV -Reporting Limit parts per billion volume
• RL-UG/M3 -Reporting Limit micrograms per cubic meter
• LOD -Limit of Detection
• LOQ -Limit of Quantitation
• EQL -Estimated Quantitation Limit
• MQL -Minimum Quantitation Limit
• SDL -Sample Detection Limit
• SQL -Sample Quantitation Limit