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Press Release
August 3, 2004
BSK Analytical Laboratories has achieved
a significant goal that was begun nearly three years ago, which was to
be granted certification under the National Environmental Laboratory
Accreditation Program (NELAP). After completing the application and
auditing process conducted by the California Environmental Laboratory
Accreditation Program (ELAP), NELAP Certificate Number 04227CA was
issued to BSK Analytical Laboratories for drinking water Fields of
Accreditation on July 26, 2004.
BSK Analytical Laboratories did not
achieve this goal by attempting to meet a minimal level of conformity to
the Quality Assurance requirements in the NELAP standards. Rather,
through a comprehensive review, re-evaluation, and re-structuring of the
Quality Assurance systems in the laboratory, a new level of quality has
been achieved in all areas of laboratory operations. An understanding of
the scope of the improvements can be seen in this list of
accomplishments:
- A new Quality Assurance Manual was
implemented, which sets forth the policies for all aspects of the
Quality Assurance program, including an excellent Mission Statement
for BSK Analytical Laboratories.
- Detailed responsibilities were defined
for all laboratory management positions, especially those of the
Quality Assurance Manager, Alicia Del Carlo, who guided BSK Analytical
Laboratories through the NELAP accreditation process.
- A comprehensive and detailed document
control system was implemented for all laboratory policy and
procedures documents.
- Internal audit and annual managerial
review systems have been implemented, which will maintain and improve
the quality assurance systems of BSK Analytical Laboratories.
- Over 135 Standard Operating Procedures
(SOP) were either revised or written, including 77 laboratory method
SOP’s, all in the format approved by the NELAP standards.
- A standard practice of analytical data
review was implemented, including detailed checklists for the peer
review and release of results from the laboratory to the final
reporting stage.
- A detailed and comprehensive Ethics
Policy was implemented, which includes a proactive program for the
prevention and detection of improper, unethical, or illegal actions.
The Ethics Policy includes procedures for on-going staff training, an
“Ethics and Integrity Agreement” agreed to by all staff, a monitoring
system for data integrity, and procedures for proper raw data
handling.
- A detailed and comprehensive training
program for all chemists and technicians was implemented, which
includes internal certification of all staff for specific analytical
methods and sample preparation steps.
- Additional Performance Testing (PT)
samples were purchased and analyzed to meet the stricter frequency and
evaluation requirements of the NELAP program.
- All sample receiving activities were
improved to meet NELAP standards, including the unique identification
and tracking of every sample container, from receipt in the
laboratory, until the ultimate disposal of the sample.
- A calibration schedule has been
implemented where over 100 individual pieces of support equipment are
checked and verified daily, for laboratory equipment such as ovens,
furnaces, refrigerators and freezers, water baths, balances, hoods,
heating blocks, gas and vacuum systems, and deionized water systems.
- The final analytical reports were
revised to include all NELAP required information, including an
elaborate comment system, whereby analytical and sample information is
added during the testing process, and is summarized on a unique case
narrative for each submission.
The scope of these improvements could
only by accomplished through the commitment and dedication of all BSK
Analytical Laboratory employees. The management team met every two weeks
for nearly one year to plan, design, and implement all of the items
listed above, as well as many other details too numerous to cite. The
goal was not just to meet the NELAP program requirements, but also to
design an analytical laboratory QA system that would provide a higher
level of quality and service, to better meet the needs of the clients of
BSK Analytical Laboratories. The employees of BSK Analytical
Laboratories look forward to providing those services, as a NELAP
certified laboratory, in the months and years ahead.
Jeffrey Koelewyn
Laboratory Director |
