Summary of QC requirements for analysis of waters and waste using EPA ILM0

Key Words Frequency Limits & Comments
Mass calibration/resolution Before each analytical session According to manufacturer's recommendations
Precision and sensitivity Before each analytical session Determined with a “Tune” solution to
demonstrate sensitivity and stability. < 5% RSD for N= 5.
Calibration Daily or when required  
Method detection limits (MDL)
(according to 40CFR136, Appendix B)
Annually or after major
hardware change
< 50% of contract required quantitation limits (CROQLs)
before reporting results. All required calculations must be included,
eg., interference correction equations, as these can
have a substantial influence on MDLs.
Linear dynamic range (LDR) Quarterly or after major
Instrument hardware change
High standard + 10%) of the expected value,
extrapolated trom the low standards. Calibration verified using second-source stan- dard, 90-110%
Initial calibration verification (ICV) After each calibration Calibration verified using second-source stan- dard, 90-110%
Continuing calibration verification (CCV) After each calibration and
every 10 samples
Periodic check on ongoing accuracy and drift using primary calibration standard, 90-110%
Initial calibration blank (ICB) After each calibration Read back of blank, < CROLs
Continuing calibration blank (CCB) After each calibration and
every 10 samples
Read back of blank, <CROLs
Contract required quantitation limit (CROL)
check (CRI)
After each calibration and
every 20 samples
The CRI solution is a check of the accuracy at CROL values.
70-130%, 50-150% for Co, Mn, and Zn
Interference check solution A (ICSA) After each calibration Contains potential interference elements.
Checks freedom from interference elements at blank levels. ± 3 CRQL
Interference check solution AB (ICSAB) After each calibration Checks accuracy in an interference producing
matrix by spiking with target elements into ICSA.
80-120% recovery
Matrix spike (MXS) One per sample batch Checks recoveries of target analytes spiked
into an unknown predigested sample.
75—125%
Postdigestion spike (PDS) One per sample batch Checks recoveries of target analytes spiked into
an unknown digested sample. 75-125%
Duplicates (DUP) One per sample batch Two aliquots of same sample,
80-120% (rela tive percentage difference [RPD])
Laboratory control sample (LCS) One per sample batch Sample with known composition,
processed through the same sample preparation procedure
as the unknown samples. 80-120%
Internal standard Five elements required Response of any internal standard must not
deviate by more than 60-125%. Dilute for high
dissolved solid samples.
Serial dilution One per sample batch Unknown sample to check for matrix effects.
Diluted concentration must be within the upper
75% of the calibrated or linear range.
If analyte concentration > 50 times the MBL, a fivefold
dilution will be + 1096 of original concentration.
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