##### QADATA Summary -- September 2004

The Inorganic Blind Sample Project (IBSP) reviews 109 inorganic
analytical lines at the National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) using
double-blind, quality-control samples. The QADATA Summary is a short
summary of only those analytical lines for which the quality-control
charts indicate or have indicated a bias and/or higher than expected
variability. Overall, the vast majority of the analyses at the NWQL
demonstrate acceptable variability and little or no bias.

The data reviewed is for the time period 02/01/04 through 08/26/04;
however, longer-range charts are used when they add clarity to the
problem. The attached quality-control charts contain data from samples
that have been subject to the same laboratory handling procedures as the
samples that are submitted by the USGS district offices, and the data
have the same level of quality-control review as the data released to
the districts. Therefore, any factors that affect the data displayed on
the IBSP quality-control charts should also affect the districts' data
in a similar manner. Data from samples that are known to have been
affected by a problem independent of the laboratory are not displayed on
the charts.

In this report, the "Problem" is determined and written by IBSP. The
"Problem" is then sent to the NWQL which gets two weeks to respond to
the issue by writing a "Lab Comment" and a "Corrective Action." The
lab's comments are incorporated into the QADATA Summary as received.
Comments from previous QADATA Summaries are included in this report to
help provide a clearer perspective of the overall concern.

Current charts (updated twice weekly) may be accessed at
[http://bqs.usgs.gov/bsp/FY04_05charts.htm](http://bqs.usgs.gov/bsp/FY04charts.htm).
Laboratory and district personnel can also make their own QADATA
retrieval to parallel their project's sampling period by using the
QADATA Application online at
[http://bqs.usgs.gov/bsp](http://bqs.usgs.gov/bsp/mainpage.html) (select
QADATA Application button). Charts pertaining specifically to this
report can be accessed electronically by following the underlined
hyperlinks embedded within the report and associated with each analysis
discussed.

Historical QADATA Summaries may be accessed at
<http://bqs.usgs.gov/bsp/QAData.htm>.

*Tedmund M. Struzeski*

<struzesk@usgs.gov>

Table of Contents

Note: All analytes are hyperlinked to their respective positions within
the report.

NWQL

Analyte Page

Arsenic, Filtered, ICP-MS, Labcode 2503, Parmcode 1000D . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Cadmium, Filtered, ICP-MS, Labcode 1788, Parmcode 1025G . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chromium, Filtered, GFAA, Labcode 1936, Parmcode 1030I . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Strontium, Filtered, ICP-MS, Labcode 2507, Parmcode 1080I . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Uranium, Filtered, ICP-MS, Labcode 1797, Parmcode 22703G. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Magnesium, Filtered, ICP, Labcode 0663, Parmcode 0925C . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Sodium, Filtered, ICP, Labcode 0675, Parmcode 0930C . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Sulfate, Filtered, IC, Labcode 1572, Parmcode 0945G. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Table 1

NWQL PERFORMANCE ON IBSP SAMPLES

######### **Note: Click the blue, underlined text in the left column to access the control chart for the associated parameter.**

+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| **Trace | * |                  | **NWQL**          | **Corrective**    |
| Metal   | * |                  |                   |                   |
| De      | P |                  | **Lab Comment**   | **Action**        |
| termina | r |                  |                   |                   |
| tions** | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
+=========+===+==================+===================+===================+
| [**A    | * |                  |                   |                   |
| rsenic, | * |                  |                   |                   |
| Fil     | T |                  |                   |                   |
| tered** | h |                  |                   |                   |
| ](http: | e |                  |                   |                   |
| //bqs.u | r |                  |                   |                   |
| sgs.gov | e |                  |                   |                   |
| /bsp/QA | s |                  |                   |                   |
| DATA_al | u |                  |                   |                   |
| l/04SEP | l |                  |                   |                   |
| /SEP04N | t |                  |                   |                   |
| WQL0100 | s |                  |                   |                   |
| 0D.gif) | r |                  |                   |                   |
| **I     | e |                  |                   |                   |
| CP-MS** | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
| **      | i |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode | v |                  |                   |                   |
| 2503**  | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
| **p     | s |                  |                   |                   |
| armcode | i |                  |                   |                   |
| 1000D** | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| *P      |   |                  |                   |                   |
| revious |   |                  |                   |                   |
| c       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| omments |   |                  |                   |                   |
| for     |   |                  |                   |                   |
| a       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| rsenic, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| fi      |   |                  |                   |                   |
| ltered, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| ICP-MS, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode |   |                  |                   |                   |
| 2503,   |   |                  |                   |                   |
| p       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| armcode |   |                  |                   |                   |
| 1000D*  |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | A |                  | Arsenic bias was  | The software was  |
|         | d |                  | traceable to the  | reinstalled by    |
| >       | r |                  | correction factor | the instrument    |
|  QADATA | a |                  | algorithm and the | vendor, thus      |
| >       | m |                  | likely source was | restoring the     |
| Summary | a |                  | in the software.  | correct           |
| > July  | t |                  | This error caused | correction factor |
| > 2004  | i |                  | arsenic values to | algorithm. A hard |
|         | c |                  | be biased high.   | disk diagnostic   |
|         | s |                  | The solution used | check on the      |
|         | h |                  | to check the      | instrument        |
|         | i |                  | accuracy of the   | computers was     |
|         | f |                  | correction        | performed and no  |
|         | t |                  | equation did not  | problems were     |
|         | i |                  | show the error.   | found with disk   |
|         | n |                  |                   | memory. All data  |
|         | t |                  |                   | affected by this  |
|         | h |                  |                   | problem is in the |
|         | e |                  |                   | process of being  |
|         | d |                  |                   | updated and a     |
|         | a |                  |                   | RapiNote is being |
|         | t |                  |                   | drafted. The      |
|         | a |                  |                   | correction check  |
|         | i |                  |                   | solution has been |
|         | s |                  |                   | changed to        |
|         | e |                  |                   | include a known   |
|         | v |                  |                   | amount of arsenic |
|         | i |                  |                   | to verify the     |
|         | d |                  |                   | correction factor |
|         | e |                  |                   | is correcting the |
|         | n |                  |                   | target arsenic    |
|         | t |                  |                   | concentration.    |
|         | s |                  |                   | The SOP will be   |
|         | t |                  |                   | amended, and      |
|         | a |                  |                   | training will be  |
|         | r |                  |                   | documented. We    |
|         | t |                  |                   | anticipate having |
|         | i |                  |                   | the documents and |
|         | n |                  |                   | training          |
|         | g |                  |                   | completed by July |
|         | m |                  |                   | 30, 2004.         |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
|         |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| [**C    | * |                  |                   |                   |
| admium, | * |                  |                   |                   |
| Fil     | T |                  |                   |                   |
| tered** | h |                  |                   |                   |
| ](http: | e |                  |                   |                   |
| //bqs.u | l |                  |                   |                   |
| sgs.gov | o |                  |                   |                   |
| /bsp/QA | n |                  |                   |                   |
| DATA_al | g |                  |                   |                   |
| l/04SEP | - |                  |                   |                   |
| /SEP04N | r |                  |                   |                   |
| WQL0102 | u |                  |                   |                   |
| 5G.gif) | n |                  |                   |                   |
| *       | n |                  |                   |                   |
| *ICP-MS | i |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode | n |                  |                   |                   |
| 1788    | g |                  |                   |                   |
| p       | s |                  |                   |                   |
| armcode | l |                  |                   |                   |
| 1025G** | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | g |                  |                   |                   |
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+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| *P      |   |                  |                   |                   |
| revious |   |                  |                   |                   |
| c       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| omments |   |                  |                   |                   |
| for     |   |                  |                   |                   |
| c       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| admium, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| fi      |   |                  |                   |                   |
| ltered, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| ICP-MS, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode |   |                  |                   |                   |
| 1788,   |   |                  |                   |                   |
| p       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| armcode |   |                  |                   |                   |
| 1025G*  |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | T |                  | Internal QC and   | The stock         |
|         | h |                  | NIST, both third  | standards are due |
| >       | e |                  | party checks,     | for the annual    |
|  QADATA | l |                  | indicate a bias   | replacement at    |
| >       | o |                  | of about 2%,      | this time. New    |
| Summary | n |                  | which is within   | standards are on  |
| > July  | g |                  | the acceptance    | order. The        |
| > 2004  | - |                  | criteria for      | process for       |
|         | r |                  | calibration       | preparation and   |
|         | u |                  | standards.        | review of new     |
|         | n |                  | Concentration of  | standards will    |
|         | n |                  | internal QC and   | follow.           |
|         | i |                  | NIST checks has   |                   |
|         | n |                  | been verified by  |                   |
|         | g |                  | alternate         |                   |
|         | s |                  | methods. An       |                   |
|         | l |                  | internal QC       |                   |
|         | i |                  | review of the     |                   |
|         | g |                  | other five        |                   |
|         | h |                  | methods also      |                   |
|         | t |                  | shows a 2% or     |                   |
|         | p |                  | less bias, again  |                   |
|         | o |                  | within the SOP    |                   |
|         | s |                  | criteria.         |                   |
|         | i |                  | Interferences are |                   |
|         | t |                  | not a cause for   |                   |
|         | i |                  | the high bias.    |                   |
|         | v |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | A |                  |                   | NWQL continues to |
|         | s |                  |                   | closely monitor   |
| >       | o |                  |                   | analysis.         |
|  QADATA | f |                  |                   |                   |
| >       | M |                  |                   |                   |
| Summary | a |                  |                   |                   |
| > May   | r |                  |                   |                   |
| > 2004  | c |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | x |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | Q |                  |                   |                   |
|         | A |                  |                   |                   |
|         | D |                  |                   |                   |
|         | A |                  |                   |                   |
|         | T |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | S |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | y |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | D |                  | Due to the        | The issue of      |
|         | a |                  | on-going          | possible          |
| >       | t |                  | monitoring of     | interferences     |
|  QADATA | a |                  | internal QC, a    | that could affect |
| >       | f |                  | positive bias is  | cadmium is being  |
| Summary | r |                  | still not evident | discussed with    |
| > March | o |                  | on NWQL QC        | the NWQL's Method |
| > 2004  | m |                  | charts. To verify | Research and      |
|         | J |                  | this, an          | Development       |
|         | a |                  | additional        | Program. More     |
|         | n |                  | third-party check | research needs to |
|         | u |                  | standard from a   | be done. Also,    |
|         | a |                  | different source  | internal QC and   |
|         | r |                  | than is routinely | IBSP charts will  |
|         | y |                  | used by ICP-MS    | continue to be    |
|         | 2 |                  | was run during    | monitored for     |
|         | 0 |                  | the week of March | bias and          |
|         | 0 |                  | 8^th^, 2004, to   | variability.      |
|         | 4 |                  | verify the ICP-MS |                   |
|         | t |                  | calibration       |                   |
|         | h |                  | curve.            |                   |
|         | r |                  | Calibration and   |                   |
|         | o |                  | QC are            |                   |
|         | u |                  | acceptable.       |                   |
|         | g |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | M |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | u |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | I |                  |                   |                   |
|         | C |                  |                   |                   |
|         | P |                  |                   |                   |
|         | - |                  |                   |                   |
|         | M |                  |                   |                   |
|         | S |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | 2 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 3 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 7 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 6 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | ) |                  |                   |                   |
|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | D |                  | The bias is not   | New calibration   |
|         | a |                  | evident on NWQL   | standards were    |
| >       | t |                  | QC charts.        | made and verified |
|  QADATA | a |                  |                   | for use at the    |
| >       | f |                  |                   | end of December   |
| Summary | o |                  |                   | 2003. We will     |
| >       | r |                  |                   | continue to       |
| January | t |                  |                   | monitor internal  |
| > 2004  | h |                  |                   | QC and IBSP       |
|         | e |                  |                   | charts for bias   |
|         | l |                  |                   | and variability.  |
|         | a |                  |                   | If the            |
|         | s |                  |                   | third-party check |
|         | t |                  |                   | standards         |
|         | s |                  |                   | indicate a bias,  |
|         | i |                  |                   | calibration       |
|         | x |                  |                   | standards will be |
|         | m |                  |                   | remade and        |
|         | o |                  |                   | verified.         |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
|         |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| [**Ch   | * |                  | **NWQL QC charts  | **NWQL will       |
| romium, | * |                  | do not indicate a | continue to       |
| Fil     | T |                  | bias.             | closely monitor   |
| tered** | h |                  | []{.mark}Eleven   | analysis.**       |
| ](http: | e |                  | of the BQS        |                   |
| //bqs.u | c |                  | samples were run  |                   |
| sgs.gov | h |                  | on the ICP and    |                   |
| /bsp/QA | a |                  | all values were   |                   |
| DATA_al | r |                  | higher than the   |                   |
| l/04SEP | t |                  | MPV. The QC for   |                   |
| /SEP04N | s |                  | the run (CCVs and |                   |
| WQL0103 | h |                  | TPCs) was running |                   |
| 0I.gif) | o |                  | slightly lower    |                   |
| **GFAA  | w |                  | than the MPV. A   |                   |
| labcode | s |                  | NIST traceable    |                   |
| 1936    | a |                  | standard was run  |                   |
| p       | p |                  | on the GFAA. The  |                   |
| armcode | o |                  | values came out   |                   |
| 1030I** | s |                  | slightly lower    |                   |
|         | i |                  | than the MPV.     |                   |
|         | t |                  | []{.mark}**       |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | v |                  |                   |                   |
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| ontium, | * |                  | problem was       | vendor has fixed  |
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| //bqs.u | u |                  | increase in       | installed.        |
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| /bsp/QA | t |                  | strontium. Also,  | standards will be |
| DATA_al | s |                  | at this same      | remade and        |
| l/04SEP | r |                  | time, it was      | verified by       |
| /SEP04N | e |                  | determined that   | September 14th.   |
| WQL0108 | c |                  | the instrument    | NWQL will         |
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| *       | i |                  | replacement.**    | monitor strontium |
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| []      |   |                  |                   |                   |
| {.mark} |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| [**U    | * |                  | **NWQL QC charts  | **New standards   |
| ranium, | * |                  | indicate a        | are due to be     |
| Fil     | T |                  | negative bias of  | remade and        |
| tered** | h |                  | \<3%. Analysis of | verified by       |
| ](http: | e |                  | calibration and   | September 14th.   |
| //bqs.u | c |                  | QC standards      | NWQL will         |
| sgs.gov | h |                  | against NIST      | continue to       |
| /bsp/QA | a |                  | standards show a  | monitor uranium   |
| DATA_al | r |                  | \<3% bias.**      | for bias.         |
| l/04SEP | t |                  |                   | []{.mark}**       |
| /SEP04N | s |                  |                   |                   |
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+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+

+---------+---+------------------+---+-----------------+---+-----------------+
| **Major | * |                  |   | **NWQL**        |   | **Corrective**  |
| De      | * |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
| termina | P |                  |   | **Lab Comment** |   | **Action**      |
| tions** | r |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
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+=========+===+==================+===+=================+===+=================+
| [**Mag  | * |                  |   | **NWQL charts   |   | **NWQL will     |
| nesium, | * |                  |   | indicated a     |   | continue to     |
| Fil     | T |                  |   | negative bias   |   | monitor for     |
| tered** | h |                  |   | of 4% for       |   | bias.**         |
| ](http: | e |                  |   | magnesium in    |   |                 |
| //bqs.u | v |                  |   | mid-August. New |   |                 |
| sgs.gov | a |                  |   | standards were  |   |                 |
| /bsp/QA | r |                  |   | made and        |   |                 |
| DATA_al | i |                  |   | verified at the |   |                 |
| l/04SEP | a |                  |   | end of          |   |                 |
| /SEP04N | b |                  |   | August.**       |   |                 |
| WQL0092 | i |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
| 5C.gif) | l |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
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| 0C.gif) | h |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
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|         | 7 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 7 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 7 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 7 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 7 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 7 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 7 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
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|         | 9 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 4 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 4 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 4 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 4 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 4 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 4 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 4 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 4 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 4 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 4 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 5 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
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|         | } |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
+---------+---+------------------+---+-----------------+---+-----------------+
| *P      |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
| revious |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
| c       |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
| omments |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
| for     |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
| c       |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
| alcium, |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
| mag     |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
| nesium, |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
| and     |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
| sodium  |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
| by ICP* |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
+---------+---+------------------+---+-----------------+---+-----------------+
| From    | D |                  |   | Based on        |   | We have nothing |
|         | a |                  |   | internal QC and |   | new to try at   |
| >       | t |                  |   | instrument      |   | this time.      |
|  QADATA | a |                  |   | optimization    |   | However, we     |
| >       | r |                  |   | procedures the  |   | will continue   |
| Summary | e |                  |   | variability     |   | to consider the |
| > July  | c |                  |   | mentioned by    |   | 4% variability  |
| > 2004  | e |                  |   | IBSP is not     |   | and try to make |
|         | i |                  |   | observed.       |   | improvements.   |
|         | v |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | e |                  |   | Contamination,  |   |                 |
|         | d |                  |   | calibration     |   |                 |
|         | s |                  |   | curve design,   |   |                 |
|         | i |                  |   | nebulizer       |   |                 |
|         | n |                  |   | conditions and  |   |                 |
|         | c |                  |   | performance,    |   |                 |
|         | e |                  |   | and sample      |   |                 |
|         | t |                  |   | stability for   |   |                 |
|         | h |                  |   | the longer      |   |                 |
|         | e |                  |   | analytical      |   |                 |
|         | l |                  |   | times have all  |   |                 |
|         | a |                  |   | been examined   |   |                 |
|         | s |                  |   | and proven not  |   |                 |
|         | t |                  |   | to be           |   |                 |
|         | Q |                  |   | contributors to |   |                 |
|         | A |                  |   | the variability |   |                 |
|         | D |                  |   | concerns. The   |   |                 |
|         | A |                  |   | instrument      |   |                 |
|         | T |                  |   | meets the       |   |                 |
|         | A |                  |   | manufacturers   |   |                 |
|         | S |                  |   | specifications  |   |                 |
|         | u |                  |   | for             |   |                 |
|         | m |                  |   | performance.    |   |                 |
|         | m |                  |   | The method      |   |                 |
|         | a |                  |   | meets or        |   |                 |
|         | r |                  |   | exceeds the     |   |                 |
|         | y |                  |   | requirements    |   |                 |
|         | i |                  |   | for ASTM,       |   |                 |
|         | n |                  |   | Standard        |   |                 |
|         | d |                  |   | Methods, and    |   |                 |
|         | i |                  |   | EPA published   |   |                 |
|         | c |                  |   | methods for     |   |                 |
|         | a |                  |   | performance.    |   |                 |
|         | t |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
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|         | 1 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 9 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 7 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 9 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 1 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 6 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 6 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 6 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 6 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 6 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 6 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 6 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 6 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 6 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | 6 |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
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+---------+---+------------------+---+-----------------+---+-----------------+
| From    | D |                  |   | The increase in |   | NWQL continues  |
|         | a |                  |   | variability is  |   | to investigate  |
| >       | t |                  |   | due in part to  |   | the cause of    |
|  QADATA | a |                  |   | several         |   | the outliers on |
| >       | r |                  |   | outliers, some  |   | runs with       |
| Summary | e |                  |   | of which have   |   | acceptable QC   |
| > May   | c |                  |   | been due to     |   | by running      |
| > 2004  | e |                  |   | human error.    |   | tests on the    |
|         | i |                  |   | Since the last  |   | instrument and  |
|         | v |                  |   | QADATA Summary  |   | determining     |
|         | e |                  |   | (March 2004),   |   | whether         |
|         | d |                  |   | however, all    |   | contamination   |
|         | s |                  |   | outliers have   |   | and carry-over  |
|         | i |                  |   | been on runs    |   | is present.     |
|         | n |                  |   | with acceptable |   |                 |
|         | c |                  |   | QC. Their cause |   | New standards   |
|         | e |                  |   | is not known at |   | for calcium,    |
|         | t |                  |   | this time.      |   | magnesium, and  |
|         | h |                  |   | Tests have been |   | sodium have     |
|         | e |                  |   | performed that  |   | been prepared   |
|         | l |                  |   | rule out        |   | and were        |
|         | a |                  |   | non-instrument  |   | validated on    |
|         | s |                  |   | related         |   | May 12^th^,     |
|         | t |                  |   | contamination.  |   | 2004. NWQL will |
|         | Q |                  |   | Tests are being |   | continue to     |
|         | A |                  |   | conducted to    |   | closely monitor |
|         | D |                  |   | determine       |   | the analysis    |
|         | A |                  |   | whether         |   | for bias.       |
|         | T |                  |   | instrument      |   |                 |
|         | A |                  |   | contamination   |   |                 |
|         | S |                  |   | and carry-over  |   |                 |
|         | u |                  |   | is present.     |   |                 |
|         | m |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | m |                  |   | The positive    |   |                 |
|         | a |                  |   | bias for        |   |                 |
|         | r |                  |   | calcium and     |   |                 |
|         | y |                  |   | magnesium on    |   |                 |
|         | i |                  |   | BQS control     |   |                 |
|         | n |                  |   | charts is also  |   |                 |
|         | d |                  |   | evident on NWQL |   |                 |
|         | i |                  |   | QC charts,      |   |                 |
|         | c |                  |   | prompting the   |   |                 |
|         | a |                  |   | preparation of  |   |                 |
|         | t |                  |   | new standards.  |   |                 |
|         | e |                  |   | The positive    |   |                 |
|         | a |                  |   | bias for sodium |   |                 |
|         | p |                  |   | is not evident  |   |                 |
|         | o |                  |   | on NWQL control |   |                 |
|         | s |                  |   | charts.         |   |                 |
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+---------+---+------------------+---+-----------------+---+-----------------+
| From    | N |                  |   | The increase in |   | As stated in    |
|         | e |                  |   | variability is  |   | the January     |
| >       | w |                  |   | due in part to  |   | 2004 QADATA     |
|  QADATA | i |                  |   | several         |   | Summary for     |
| >       | n |                  |   | outliers, some  |   | cadmium WWR     |
| Summary | s |                  |   | of which have   |   | GFAA (labcode   |
| > March | t |                  |   | been due to     |   | 1555), use of   |
| > 2004  | r |                  |   | human error.    |   | an additional   |
|         | u |                  |   | Since the last  |   | QC check sheet  |
|         | m |                  |   | data summary    |   | that is         |
|         | e |                  |   | (January 2004), |   | included in all |
|         | n |                  |   | however, all    |   | data packets    |
|         | t |                  |   | outliers have   |   | was implemented |
|         | a |                  |   | been on runs    |   | to help         |
|         | t |                  |   | with acceptable |   | alleviate       |
|         | i |                  |   | QC. Their cause |   | incorrect data  |
|         | o |                  |   | is not known at |   | going in LIMS.  |
|         | n |                  |   | this time.      |   | This practice   |
|         | w |                  |   |                 |   | was implemented |
|         | a |                  |   |                 |   | for ICP         |
|         | s |                  |   |                 |   | processes in    |
|         | i |                  |   |                 |   | October 2003,   |
|         | m |                  |   |                 |   | and data shows  |
|         | p |                  |   |                 |   | that it has     |
|         | l |                  |   |                 |   | been useful in  |
|         | e |                  |   |                 |   | eliminating     |
|         | m |                  |   |                 |   | some errors. We |
|         | e |                  |   |                 |   | will continue   |
|         | n |                  |   |                 |   | to investigate  |
|         | t |                  |   |                 |   | the cause of    |
|         | e |                  |   |                 |   | the outliers on |
|         | d |                  |   |                 |   | runs with       |
|         | i |                  |   |                 |   | acceptable QC.  |
|         | n |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
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+---------+---+------------------+---+-----------------+---+-----------------+
|         |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
+---------+---+------------------+---+-----------------+---+-----------------+
| [**S    | * |                  |   | **We reviewed   |   | **We have no    |
| ulfate, | * |                  |   | internal QC to  |   | explanation of  |
| Filter  | T |                  |   | help evaluate   |   | the bias, or    |
| ed**](h | h |                  |   | the observed    |   | why it is only  |
| ttp://b | e |                  |   | bias. Our data  |   | evident in the  |
| qs.usgs | c |                  |   | indicates a     |   | middle of the   |
| .gov/bs | h |                  |   | bias of about   |   | analytical      |
| p/QADAT | a |                  |   | 3% or less, in  |   | range. We will  |
| A_all/0 | r |                  |   | only the        |   | continue to     |
| 4SEP/SE | t |                  |   | midsection of   |   | monitor the     |
| P04NWQL | i |                  |   | the analytical  |   | situation and   |
| 00945G. | n |                  |   | range. We also  |   | attempt to find |
| gif)**\ | d |                  |   | noticed         |   | the cause.**    |
| IC      | i |                  |   | increased       |   |                 |
| labcode | c |                  |   | variability     |   |                 |
| 1572    | a |                  |   | during the      |   |                 |
| p       | t |                  |   | period of the   |   |                 |
| armcode | e |                  |   | observed bias.  |   |                 |
| 0945G** | s |                  |   | We are          |   |                 |
|         | a |                  |   | currently       |   |                 |
|         | s |                  |   | implementing    |   |                 |
|         | l |                  |   | new instruments |   |                 |
|         | i |                  |   | on this         |   |                 |
|         | g |                  |   | analytical      |   |                 |
|         | h |                  |   | line, and will  |   |                 |
|         | t |                  |   | eliminate use   |   |                 |
|         | n |                  |   | of the          |   |                 |
|         | e |                  |   | instrument      |   |                 |
|         | g |                  |   | producing the   |   |                 |
|         | a |                  |   | observed bias   |   |                 |
|         | t |                  |   | in the next few |   |                 |
|         | i |                  |   | months.**       |   |                 |
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|         | . |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | * |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
|         | * |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
+---------+---+------------------+---+-----------------+---+-----------------+
|         |   |                  |   |                 |   |                 |
+---------+---+------------------+---+-----------------+---+-----------------+

######