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Internal Quality Assurance Requirements for the Analysis of Dioxins in Environmental Samples

Section 7: Data Reporting

  1. Submission of sample results must be accompanied by a good photocopy of the corresponding sample submission/custody form. An example of this form is shown in Figure 5.

  2. For every sample analyzed, information on sample identity, sample size, GC column, MS model, concentration of target analytes, detection limit, number of isomer peaks identified for each homologue, amounts of surrogates added, and surrogate recoveries must be reported as shown in Figure 3.

  3. For isomer-specific analysis, ion abundance ratio and the deviation from expected retention time for each target congener must be reported as shown in Figure 4.

  4. Quality Assurance/Quality Control data that must be submitted with sample results include: results of the most recent method performance tests Figure 6; multi-point calibration data (Figure 7); calibration verification data (Figure 8); method blank results (Section 4j.); and any replicate or control sample results (Section 4k).

  5. All original sample and supporting QA/QC data must be available for auditing, if required. Documentation that could be subject to audit includes Column Performance (Section 5b) and Window Defining Mixture (Section 5a) chromatograms, control charts to document performance on control samples (if they are analyzed routinely), hard copies of data for standard solutions at near-detection-limit concentrations (Section 6e), hard copies of MS chromatograms for all samples (ion intensity ratios and checkmarks for positive analyte peaks should be recorded on chromatograms).

    All data should be saved on disk or tape for at least three years after contract completion. Written consent must be obtained from the client to dispose of any records.

Figure 5: Sample Submission/Custody Sheet
Sample Submission/Custody Sheet

Figure 6: Method Performance Test Data Sheet
Method Performance Test Data Sheet

Figure 7: Multi-point Calibration Data Sheet
Multi-point Calibration Data Sheet

Figure 8: Calibration Verification Data Sheet
Calibration Verification Data Sheet

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