Flett Research - Mercury Quality Assurance

High quality data is a matter of pride for us at Flett Research. We are proud of every piece of data we produce and are committed to ensuring that nothing leaves our laboratory without passing strict acceptance criteria at all levels of our data review process.

Our staff consistently produce excellent results for proficiency testing samples, in interlaboratory comparisons and during both internal and external audits.

Accreditation

Total mercury and methyl mercury analysis in water, sediment and tissue have been accredited by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA) since 2004. See our complete list of accredited tests at Flett scope of tests. CALA is an internationally recognized accrediting body and a member of both the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). For more information on CALA and their accreditation requirements visit their website.

The CALA accreditation program is based on the continued demonstration of performance as evaluated through interlaboratory proficiency testing and laboratory site audits and shows compliance to ISO/IEC 17025 "General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories". A copy of our CALA accreditation certificate can be seen here.

Method Quality Control

Each analysis has its own particular set of Quality Control (QC) procedures. These cover all aspects of the chemistry, equipment, reagents, documentation, etc. Each method includes QC criteria that must be met before the acceptance of the results.

Certified reference materials (CRM) are used wherever they are available to monitor the accuracy of analysis. In addition, each analytical batch includes duplicates to monitor precision, method blank(s) to monitor contamination, and procedures to evaluate interference (e.g. matrix/sample spikes).

Interlaboratory Comparisions & Proficiency Testing

Our accredited status with the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation requires that some form of proficiency testing is participated in for each of our accredited analyses.

Our laboratory routinely participates in interlaboratory comparisons and proficiency testing programs as an additional check that overall analytical performance is maintaining accuracy and validity. Past and present programs include:

EPA – In 1997 Flett Research Ltd. was one of the only 12 labs in the world selected to take part in a validation study for EPA Draft Method 1631 ("Total Mercury in Water by Oxidation, Purge and Trap, and CVAFS").

Proficiency Testing Canada – Our lab has successfully analyzed proficiency samples twice a year for total mercury in water and total mercury in sediment since first accredited in 2004.

USGS – Since being invited to participate in 2007, our lab has attained consistently excellent results in quarterly quality assurance samples for the United States Geological Survey’s Precipitation Chemistry Quality Assurance Project (PCQA) which is part of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP).

FAPAS Proficiency (FERA Science Ltd). – Each year Flett successfully analyzes proficiency samples for total mercury and methyl mercury in fish tissue.

NCP-III – We participate regularly in the Environment and Climate Change Canada – Northern Contaminants Program – Arctic Monitoring Assessment Programme.

MRaD (ERA Waters) – Twice each year our lab successfully completes soil samples as part of ERAs MRaD™ Multi-Media Radiochemistry Proficiency Testing studies.

IAEA – We are routinely invited and have participated in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certifications of total and methyl mercury in reference materials.

MQAP – Regular and successful analysis of total mercury in fish proficiency samples from the Mercury Quality Assurance Program (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) indicated a continuing reliability in our mercury data.

For additional information, contact Dr. Robert Flett at flett@flettresearch.ca

Return to the Flett Research Mercury Page.

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Flett Research Ltd - 440 DeSalaberry Ave - Winnipeg Manitoba CANADA R2L 0Y7

Phone/Fax: (204) 667-2505