Contents

Inorganic Preparative Quality Control Requirements

Effective Date: 07/2008
Point of Contact: Quality Engineer for Regulatory Programs

Quality Control Requirements Frequency Acceptance Criteria Failure Action
All Inorganic Analytical Techniques (except pH)
PB 1 per batch < EQL, <5% regulatory decision level, or <5% of measured concentration in the sample Investigate. Determine useability by evaluating against analyte concentration in sample and client DQR. Re-prepare and analyze for failed analytes.
BS(a)

-or-
Laboratory control sample

1 per batch

-or-
1 per batch

80% to 120%
-or-
Vendor specs/regulatory requirements/statistical
Investigate. Determine useability by evaluating against analyte concentration in sample and client DQR. Re-prepare and analyze for failed analytes.
Duplicate 1 per batch <20% RPD, when result >EQL (10 times IDL, or 100 times the IDL for ICP/MS) for liquids and <35% RPD when result is >EQL (10 times IDL, or 100 times the IDL for ICP/MS) for solid samples. Evaluate. If lab error, re-prepare and analyze. If matrix driven, evaluate against DQRs, notify client if still unacceptable and discuss in narrative.
MS 1 per batch Recommended:
75% to 125% or statistical
Evaluate. If lab error, re-prepare and analyze. If matrix driven, evaluate against DQR, notify client if still unacceptable and discuss in narrative.
pH
Duplicate 1 per every 10 samples Recommended:
±0.1 pH units
Discuss in narrative

(a) Techniques where the ICV is prepared with the samples, the ICV can serve as the BS.
BS = Blank Spike
EQL = Estimated Quantitation Limit
FLAA = Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
ICP = Inductively Coupled Plasma
IDL = Instrument Detection Limit
MS = Matrix spike
PB = Preparation blank.