##### QADATA Summary -- March 2003

The Inorganic Blind Sample Project (IBSP) reviews 95 inorganic
analytical lines at the National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) and 84
inorganic analytical lines at the Ocala Water Quality and Research
Laboratory (OWQRL) using double-blind, quality-assurance samples. The
QADATA Summary is a report that includes a short summary of only those
analytical lines for which the quality-assurance charts indicate or have
indicated a bias and/or higher than expected variability. Overall, the
vast majority of the analyses at the NWQL and OWQRL demonstrate
acceptable variability and little or no bias.

The data reviewed is for the time period 09/15/02 through 03/03/03;
however, longer-range charts are shown when they add clarity to problem.
The attached quality-assurance 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. Thus, any factors that affect the districts' data should
also affect the data shown in the IBSP quality-assurance charts. Samples
for which the results are outside of control limits (+/-2 f-pseudosigma)
are reanalyzed but the values are not updated unless it is determined
that the sample had deteriorated or had been contaminated before
submittal, or a problem at IBSP had occurred.

In this report, the "Problem" is determined and stated by IBSP. The
"Problem" is sent to the laboratories that then get two weeks to respond
to the issue by writing a "Lab Comment" and a "Corrective Action." The
labs' comments are incorporated into the QADATA Summary as received.
Comments from previous QADATA Summaries are included in this report when
those comments help to provide a clearer perspective of the overall
concern.

Charts containing all data received as of 03/25/03 may be accessed at
[http://bqs.usgs.gov/bsp/WY02_03charts.htm](http://bqs.usgs.gov/bsp/WY02charts.htm)
and

[http://bqs.usgs.gov/bsp/WY03charts.htm](http://bqs.usgs.gov/bsp/WY02charts.htm).

Lab personnel and customers 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/mainpage.html> (select QADATA
Application button). Charts pertaining specifically to this report can
be accessed by following the blue, underlined hyperlinks embedded within
the report and associated with each analysis discussed in the report.

*Tedmund M. Struzeski*

<struzesk@usgs.gov>

Table of Contents

Note: All analytes (in blue) are hyperlinked to their respective
positions within the report. After following a link, use the back-arrow
(if shown) to return the cursor to its previous position.

NWQL

Analyte Page

Orthophosphate, Filtered, Labcode 1974, Parmcode 0671H . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Phosphorus, Filtered, Low-level, Labcode 2331, Parmcode 0666G . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Phosphorus, Whole-Water Recoverable, Low-level, Labcode 2333, Parmcode
0665G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 4

Antimony, Filtered, ICP-MS, Labcode 1785, Parmcode 1095G . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Barium, Whole-Water Recoverable, ICP, Labcode 2352, Parmcode 1007C . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 6

Beryllium, Filtered, ICP-MS, Labcode 1787, Parmcode 1010G . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Cadmium, Filtered, ICP-MS, Labcode 1788, Parmcode 1025G . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Manganese, Filtered, ICP-MS, Labcode 1793, Parmcode 1056G . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Strontium, Filtered, ICP-MS, Labcode 2507, Parmcode 1080I. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Chloride, Filtered, IC, Labcode 1571, Parmcode 0940J. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Potassium, Filtered, Flame AA, Labcode 0833, Parmcode 0935A . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

**OWQRL**

Analyte Page

Ammonia+Organic-N, Filtered, Labcode 1985, Parmcode 0623D. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Ammonia+Organic-N, Whole-Water Recoverable, Labcode 1995, Parmcode
0625E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 9

Arsenic, Whole Water Recoverable, GFAA, Labcode 3119, Parmcode 1002(1) .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 9

Calcium, Filtered, Labcode 3016, Parmcode 0915(1). . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

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.**

+----------+-----------------+--------------------+-------------------+
| **       | **Problem**     | **NWQL**           | **Corrective**    |
| Nutrient |                 |                    |                   |
| Determin |                 | **Lab Comment**    | **Action**        |
| ations** |                 |                    |                   |
+==========+=================+====================+===================+
| [Orthoph | **The high      | **The Nutrients    | **The NWQL has    |
| osphate, | variability,    | Unit reran N76 and | ordered certified |
| F        | starting        | NS10 samples on    | reference samples |
| iltered] | October 2002,   | three different    | from NIST and     |
| (http:// | has still not   | instruments. The   | will prepare      |
| bqs.usgs | improved. Since | results were       | samples at        |
| .gov/bsp | October 2002,   | consistently low   | concentrations    |
| /QADATA_ | almost          | for NS10 and       | close to NS10,    |
| all/MAR0 | one-third of    | consistently high  | N75 and N76.      |
| 3NWQL006 | the data are    | for N76. Samples   | These samples,    |
| 71H.gif) | outside of      | prepared from      | the certified     |
|          | control limits. | certified          | references used   |
| **Colo   | The OWQRL has   | reference          | by the Nutrients  |
| rimetric | no points       | standards at       | Unit and reruns   |
| labcode  | outside of +/-2 | concentrations     | of the three IBSP |
| 1974     | SD for this     | close to NS10 and  | samples will be   |
| parmcode | parameter and   | N76, and reruns of | run together on   |
| 0671H**  | is analyzing    | N75 gave values    | several runs and  |
|          | the same        | close to their     | the results will  |
|          | reference       | MPVs. On-line QC   | be reported to    |
|          | materials.**    | charts for ERA     | IBSP. The OWQRL   |
|          |                 | certified          | was contacted to  |
|          |                 | reference samples  | compare methods   |
|          |                 | with               | and               |
|          |                 | concentrations     | instrumentation.  |
|          |                 | close to NS10 and  | The method will   |
|          |                 | N76 show little    | continue to be    |
|          |                 | change in          | examined to see   |
|          |                 | variability for    | if any problems   |
|          |                 | the period Jan     | can be found.**   |
|          |                 | 2002 to present.   |                   |
|          |                 | The photometer,    |                   |
|          |                 | pump, tubing and   |                   |
|          |                 | fittings for the   |                   |
|          |                 | instrument have    |                   |
|          |                 | been checked and   |                   |
|          |                 | are functioning    |                   |
|          |                 | properly. Reagent  |                   |
|          |                 | chemistry was also |                   |
|          |                 | checked with no    |                   |
|          |                 | problems noted.**  |                   |
+----------+-----------------+--------------------+-------------------+
| *        |                 |                    |                   |
| Previous |                 |                    |                   |
| comments |                 |                    |                   |
| for      |                 |                    |                   |
| orthoph  |                 |                    |                   |
| osphate, |                 |                    |                   |
| f        |                 |                    |                   |
| iltered, |                 |                    |                   |
| labcode  |                 |                    |                   |
| 1974,    |                 |                    |                   |
| parmcode |                 |                    |                   |
| 0671H*   |                 |                    |                   |
+----------+-----------------+--------------------+-------------------+
| From     | High            | The Nutrients Unit | The Nutrients     |
|          | variability,    | has been           | Unit, with the    |
| > QADATA | starting        | monitoring the     | assistance of the |
| >        | October 2002,   | results for the    | MRD Program,      |
|  Summary | still           | IBSP samples using | corrected         |
| >        | demonstrated.   | the IBSP control   | deficiencies      |
|  January |                 | charts. N76 and    | found on the      |
| > 2003   |                 | the on-line QC     | orthophosphate    |
|          |                 | sample prepared    | line. On-line QC  |
|          |                 | from a certified   | samples,          |
|          |                 | reference material | including         |
|          |                 | continue to run    | commercial        |
|          |                 | higher than the    | certified         |
|          |                 | MPV. NS10 is still | reference         |
|          |                 | running lower than | samples, will be  |
|          |                 | the MPV and has    | monitored for     |
|          |                 | variability that   | improvement in    |
|          |                 | is not exhibited   | the variability.  |
|          |                 | on the other       | The BQS charts    |
|          |                 | instruments.       | will also be      |
|          |                 | Examination of the | looked at weekly  |
|          |                 | ortho-phosphate    | for improvement.  |
|          |                 | line analytical    |                   |
|          |                 | system was         |                   |
|          |                 | performed.         |                   |
+----------+-----------------+--------------------+-------------------+
| From     | Increased       | The IBSP control   | The Nutrients     |
|          | variability     | chart for LC 1974  | Unit will         |
| > QADATA | overall         | shows a high bias  | continue to run   |
| >        | starting        | for N76, a low     | N76 and N75       |
|  Summary | 10/01/02, and   | bias for 3 of 4    | samples obtained  |
| >        | high bias       | data points for    | from BQS on-line. |
| November | demonstrated    | NS10 and no bias   | In addition, a    |
| > 2002   | for N76.        | for N75. Analysis  | sample has been   |
|          | Variability     | of N76 samples     | prepared at the   |
|          | problems not as | obtained from IBSP | same              |
|          | evident for     | on the 4-channel,  | concentration     |
|          | OWQRL, however, | and low-level      | level as N76 from |
|          | less data are   | 4-channel (at x5   | a commercially    |
|          | available for   | dilution)          | prepared          |
|          | assessment.     | instruments give   | certified         |
|          |                 | results similar to | reference         |
|          |                 | those on the IBSP  | material that     |
|          |                 | chart. N75 samples | will also be run  |
|          |                 | give results very  | on-line. Results  |
|          |                 | close to the MPV   | will be reported  |
|          |                 | on both            | to IBSP.          |
|          |                 | instruments.       |                   |
+----------+-----------------+--------------------+-------------------+
|          |                 |                    |                   |
+----------+-----------------+--------------------+-------------------+
| [Pho     | **Corrective    | **New stock        | **None required   |
| sphorus, | actions taken   | standards were     | at present.**     |
| F        | by the NWQL     | obtained from a    |                   |
| iltered] | seem to have    | different source   |                   |
| (http:// | corrected the   | and seem to have   |                   |
| bqs.usgs | long-running    | corrected the      |                   |
| .gov/bsp | (since April    | bias. The analysis |                   |
| /QADATA_ | 2002) positive  | will continue to   |                   |
| all/MAR0 | bias.**         | be monitored.**    |                   |
| 3NWQL006 |                 |                    |                   |
| 66G.gif) | **Analysis      |                    |                   |
|          | should still be |                    |                   |
| **Colo   | closely         |                    |                   |
| rimetric | monitored until |                    |                   |
| Low      | the next QADATA |                    |                   |
| -level** | Summary is      |                    |                   |
|          | distributed.**  |                    |                   |
| labcode  |                 |                    |                   |
| 2331     |                 |                    |                   |
| parmcode |                 |                    |                   |
| 0666G    |                 |                    |                   |
+----------+-----------------+--------------------+-------------------+
| [Pho     | **Corrective    | **New stock        | **None required   |
| sphorus, | actions taken   | standards were     | at present.**     |
| Who      | by the NWQL     | obtained from a    |                   |
| le-Water | seem to have    | different source   |                   |
| Reco     | corrected the   | and seem to have   |                   |
| verable] | long-running    | corrected the      |                   |
| (http:// | (since April    | bias. The analysis |                   |
| bqs.usgs | 2002) positive  | will continue to   |                   |
| .gov/bsp | bias.**         | be monitored.**    |                   |
| /QADATA_ |                 |                    |                   |
| all/MAR0 | **Analysis      |                    |                   |
| 3NWQL006 | should still be |                    |                   |
| 65G.gif) | closely         |                    |                   |
|          | monitored until |                    |                   |
| **Colo   | the next QADATA |                    |                   |
| rimetric | Summary is      |                    |                   |
| L        | distributed.**  |                    |                   |
| ow-level |                 |                    |                   |
| labcode  |                 |                    |                   |
| 2333     |                 |                    |                   |
| parmcode |                 |                    |                   |
| 0665G**  |                 |                    |                   |
+----------+-----------------+--------------------+-------------------+
|          |                 |                    |                   |
+----------+-----------------+--------------------+-------------------+

+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| **Trace | * |                  | **NWQL**          | **Corrective**    |
| Metal   | * |                  |                   |                   |
| De      | P |                  | **Lab Comment**   | **Action**        |
| termina | r |                  |                   |                   |
| tions** | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
+=========+===+==================+===================+===================+
| [**An   | * |                  | **We have         | **We will         |
| timony, | * |                  | identified the    | complete          |
| Filt    | T |                  | bias to be        | verifying this    |
| ered**] | h |                  | related to the    | new calibration   |
| (http:/ | e |                  | vendor-supplied   | source, and       |
| /bqs.us | p |                  | standards we have | continue to       |
| gs.gov/ | o |                  | been using. Using | monitor for       |
| bsp/QAD | s |                  | calibration       | bias.**           |
| ATA_all | i |                  | standards         |                   |
| /MAR03N | t |                  | prepared from     |                   |
| WQL0109 | i |                  | standard material |                   |
| 5G.gif) | v |                  | used by the       |                   |
|         | e |                  | Method Research   |                   |
| *       | b |                  | Development       |                   |
| *ICP-MS | i |                  | Program gave      |                   |
| labcode | a |                  | unbiased SRWS     |                   |
| 1785    | s |                  | results after one |                   |
| p       | i |                  | check.**          |                   |
| armcode | s |                  |                   |                   |
| 1095G** | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
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+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| *P      |   |                  |                   |                   |
| revious |   |                  |                   |                   |
| c       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| omments |   |                  |                   |                   |
| for     |   |                  |                   |                   |
| an      |   |                  |                   |                   |
| timony, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| fi      |   |                  |                   |                   |
| ltered, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| ICP-MS, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode |   |                  |                   |                   |
| 1785,   |   |                  |                   |                   |
| p       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| armcode |   |                  |                   |                   |
| 1095G*  |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | P |                  | Bias has          | New standards     |
|         | o |                  | continued on      | have been         |
| QADATA  | s |                  | in-house control  | verified as       |
| Summary | i |                  | charts.           | acceptable. The   |
| January | t |                  |                   | NWQL started      |
| 2003    | i |                  |                   | using the new     |
|         | v |                  |                   | standards the     |
|         | e |                  |                   | last week of      |
|         | b |                  |                   | January 2003 and  |
|         | i |                  |                   | will keep         |
|         | a |                  |                   | monitoring QC for |
|         | s |                  |                   | bias.             |
|         | p |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | v |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | M |                  |                   |                   |
|         | P |                  |                   |                   |
|         | V |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | M |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 2 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 0 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 0 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 2 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | A |                  | Bias is apparent  | Newly purchased   |
|         | p |                  | on in-house       | standards are     |
| >       | o |                  | control charts    | prepared and      |
|  QADATA | s |                  | also.             | currently         |
| >       | i |                  |                   | undergoing        |
| Summary | t |                  |                   | verification      |
| > N     | i |                  |                   | against the       |
| ovember | v |                  |                   | newest SRS and    |
| > 2002  | e |                  |                   | other third party |
|         | b |                  |                   | standards. The    |
|         | i |                  |                   | lab will monitor  |
|         | a |                  |                   | QC for bias.      |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | ( |                  |                   |                   |
|         | w |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | A |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | u |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | f |                  |                   |                   |
|         | f |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | A |                  | Lab QC charts     | Although          |
|         | p |                  | also confirm      | calibration       |
| >       | o |                  | bias.             | standards were    |
|  QADATA | s |                  |                   | made in February  |
| >       | i |                  |                   | (2002) and tested |
| Summary | t |                  |                   | within the +/- 2% |
| > Se    | i |                  |                   | acceptance, new   |
| ptember | v |                  |                   | calibration       |
| > 2002  | e |                  |                   | standards were    |
|         | b |                  |                   | recently          |
|         | i |                  |                   | prepared.         |
|         | a |                  |                   | Antimony will be  |
|         | s |                  |                   | closely           |
|         | , |                  |                   | monitored.        |
|         | w |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | T |                  | We have been      | New standards     |
|         | h |                  | looking at QC     | have been         |
| >       | i |                  | charts concerning | prepared and we   |
|  QADATA | s |                  | the high bias     | will continue to  |
| >       | a |                  | noted for         | monitor closely.  |
| Summary | n |                  | dissolved         |                   |
| > July  | a |                  | antimony - ICPMS. |                   |
| > 2002  | l |                  | It appears to     |                   |
|         | y |                  | have been a       |                   |
|         | t |                  | result of the     |                   |
|         | i |                  | standards that    |                   |
|         | c |                  | have been in use  |                   |
|         | a |                  | since about that  |                   |
|         | l |                  | time.             |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | g |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | g |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | f |                  |                   |                   |
|         | M |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
|         |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| [**     | * |                  | **New standards   | **The NWQL will   |
| Barium, | * |                  | were prepared and | continue to       |
| Whol    | A |                  | verified by       | monitor. More     |
| e-Water | l |                  | ICPMS. New        | data from the     |
| Recover | t |                  | standards were    | IBSP since these  |
| able**] | h |                  | accepted.**       | actions were      |
| (http:/ | o |                  |                   | implemented will  |
| /bqs.us | u |                  |                   | be examined in    |
| gs.gov/ | g |                  |                   | order to better   |
| bsp/QAD | h |                  |                   | assess if the     |
| ATA_all | t |                  |                   | bias is           |
| /MAR03N | h |                  |                   | improving.**      |
| WQL0100 | e |                  |                   |                   |
| 7C.gif) | r |                  |                   |                   |
| **ICP** | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
| **      | r |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode | e |                  |                   |                   |
| 2352**  | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | w |                  |                   |                   |
| **p     | o |                  |                   |                   |
| armcode | p |                  |                   |                   |
| 1007C** | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
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|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| *P      |   |                  |                   |                   |
| revious |   |                  |                   |                   |
| c       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| omments |   |                  |                   |                   |
| for     |   |                  |                   |                   |
| barium, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| whol    |   |                  |                   |                   |
| e-water |   |                  |                   |                   |
| recov   |   |                  |                   |                   |
| erable, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| ICP,    |   |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode |   |                  |                   |                   |
| 2352,   |   |                  |                   |                   |
| p       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| armcode |   |                  |                   |                   |
| 1007C*  |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | T |                  | NWQL charts still | New standards     |
|         | h |                  | show a slight     | will be prepared  |
| >       | e |                  | negative bias.    | and checked the   |
|  QADATA | h |                  | The standards     | first week in     |
| >       | i |                  | approved in       | February, 2003.   |
| Summary | s |                  | August, 2002 were | They will be      |
| >       | t |                  | recently          | compared with the |
| January | o |                  | re-checked and    | old standards on  |
| > 2003  | r |                  | found to be       | the ICP as well   |
|         | i |                  | slightly outside  | as by ICPMS       |
|         | c |                  | acceptance limits | (alternate        |
|         | a |                  | on a new ICP      | method). SRS      |
|         | l |                  | instrument in     | performance will  |
|         | n |                  | development       | be evaluated      |
|         | e |                  | status.           | using the new     |
|         | g |                  |                   | standards. The    |
|         | a |                  |                   | OWQRL lab will be |
|         | t |                  |                   | called to compare |
|         | i |                  |                   | procedures as     |
|         | v |                  |                   | well.             |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
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+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | M |                  | Adjustments to    | Calibration       |
|         | a |                  | past descriptions | standards were    |
| >       | g |                  | of bias from IBSP | made and accepted |
|  QADATA | n |                  | have been to      | on August 20,     |
| >       | i |                  | digest the        | 2002. Standards   |
| Summary | t |                  | calibration       | will be           |
| > Se    | u |                  | standards and QC  | cross-checked by  |
| ptember | d |                  | to match the      | a different       |
| > 2002  | e |                  | digestion process | method. Using lab |
|         | o |                  | of the samples.   | QC data and IBSP, |
|         | f |                  |                   | we will continue  |
|         | h |                  |                   | to monitor and,   |
|         | i |                  |                   | additionally,     |
|         | s |                  |                   | obtain more       |
|         | t |                  |                   | current SRWS from |
|         | o |                  |                   | BQS for internal  |
|         | r |                  |                   | lab QC.           |
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+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
|         |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| [**Ber  | * |                  | **Third party QC  | **The NWQL will   |
| yllium, | * |                  | checks still look | continue to       |
| Filt    | A |                  | unbiased.**       | closely monitor   |
| ered**] | p |                  |                   | beryllium for     |
| (http:/ | o |                  |                   | bias.**           |
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+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| *P      |   |                  |                   |                   |
| revious |   |                  |                   |                   |
| c       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| omments |   |                  |                   |                   |
| for     |   |                  |                   |                   |
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| yllium, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| fi      |   |                  |                   |                   |
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| 1010G*  |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | T |                  | Third party QC    | New standards are |
|         | h |                  | checks in lab     | prepared and      |
| >       | e |                  | remain unbiased.  | verified against  |
|  QADATA | p |                  |                   | the newest SRSs   |
| >       | o |                  |                   | and other third   |
| Summary | s |                  |                   | party standards.  |
| >       | i |                  |                   | The new           |
| January | t |                  |                   | calibration       |
| > 2003  | i |                  |                   | standards were    |
|         | v |                  |                   | implemented in    |
|         | e |                  |                   | January 2003. The |
|         | b |                  |                   | NWQL will monitor |
|         | i |                  |                   | QC for            |
|         | a |                  |                   | improvement in    |
|         | s |                  |                   | bias.             |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
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+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | A |                  | New mix in        | Newly purchased   |
|         | h |                  | October shows     | standards are     |
| >       | i |                  | high bias. Third  | prepared and      |
|  QADATA | g |                  | party QC checks   | currently         |
| >       | h |                  | in lab do not     | undergoing        |
| Summary | b |                  | show a bias.      | verification      |
| > N     | i |                  |                   | against the       |
| ovember | a |                  |                   | newest SRS and    |
| > 2002  | s |                  |                   | other third party |
|         | h |                  |                   | standards. The    |
|         | a |                  |                   | lab will monitor  |
|         | s |                  |                   | QC for bias. The  |
|         | d |                  |                   | lab will monitor  |
|         | e |                  |                   | beryllium closely |
|         | v |                  |                   | for improvement.  |
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+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
|         |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| [**C    | * |                  | **Third party QC  | **The lab will    |
| admium, | * |                  | charts show       | continue to       |
| Filt    | P |                  | improvement since | closely monitor   |
| ered**] | o |                  | new standards     | third party and   |
| (http:/ | s |                  | started in        | other quality     |
| /bqs.us | i |                  | January 2003.**   | assurance         |
| gs.gov/ | t |                  |                   | samples.**        |
| bsp/QAD | i |                  |                   |                   |
| ATA_all | v |                  |                   |                   |
| /MAR03N | e |                  |                   |                   |
| WQL0102 | b |                  |                   |                   |
| 5G.gif) | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
| *       | s |                  |                   |                   |
| *ICP-MS | s |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode | t |                  |                   |                   |
| 1788    | i |                  |                   |                   |
| p       | l |                  |                   |                   |
| armcode | l |                  |                   |                   |
| 1025G** | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | v |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | u |                  |                   |                   |
|         | g |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | w |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | y |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | v |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | v |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | u |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | M |                  |                   |                   |
|         | P |                  |                   |                   |
|         | V |                  |                   |                   |
|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
|         | C |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | u |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | y |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | N |                  |                   |                   |
|         | W |                  |                   |                   |
|         | Q |                  |                   |                   |
|         | L |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | O |                  |                   |                   |
|         | W |                  |                   |                   |
|         | Q |                  |                   |                   |
|         | R |                  |                   |                   |
|         | L |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | w |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | g |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | f |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| *P      |   |                  |                   |                   |
| revious |   |                  |                   |                   |
| c       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| omments |   |                  |                   |                   |
| for     |   |                  |                   |                   |
| c       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| admium, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| fi      |   |                  |                   |                   |
| ltered, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| ICP-MS, |   |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode |   |                  |                   |                   |
| 1788,   |   |                  |                   |                   |
| p       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| armcode |   |                  |                   |                   |
| 1025G*  |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | T |                  | Third party QC    | New standards are |
|         | h |                  | charts show a 5%  | acceptable and    |
| >       | e |                  | bias at 2 ug/L    | have been in use  |
|  QADATA | s |                  | and 3% bias at 20 | since January     |
| >       | l |                  | ug/L since        | 2003. The NWQL    |
| Summary | i |                  | October 2002. All | will monitor      |
| >       | g |                  | in-house QC data  | cadmium closely   |
| January | h |                  | have been         | for improvement   |
| > 2003  | t |                  | acceptable. New   | in bias.          |
|         | p |                  | SRSs were started |                   |
|         | o |                  | December 2002.    |                   |
|         | s |                  | Not enough data   |                   |
|         | i |                  | for the newest    |                   |
|         | t |                  | SRSs to evaluate  |                   |
|         | i |                  | bias.             |                   |
|         | v |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | v |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | p |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | u |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | A |                  |                   |                   |
|         | p |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 2 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 0 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 0 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 2 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | p |                  |                   |                   |
|         | p |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | v |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | v |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | u |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | - |                  |                   |                   |
|         | S |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | p |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 2 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 0 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 0 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 2 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From    | A |                  | In-house charts   | Newly purchased   |
|         | s |                  | show bias         | standards are     |
| >       | l |                  | starting at about | prepared and      |
|  QADATA | i |                  | the same time.    | currently         |
| >       | g |                  | All in-house QC   | undergoing        |
| Summary | h |                  | data has been     | verification      |
| > N     | t |                  | acceptable. Bias  | against the       |
| ovember | p |                  | most noticeable   | newest SRS and    |
| > 2002  | o |                  | in the two newest | other third party |
|         | s |                  | mixes.            | standards. The    |
|         | i |                  |                   | lab will monitor  |
|         | t |                  |                   | cadmium closely   |
|         | i |                  |                   | for improvement.  |
|         | v |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | v |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | p |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | u |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | - |                  |                   |                   |
|         | A |                  |                   |                   |
|         | p |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 2 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 0 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 0 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 2 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | g |                  |                   |                   |
|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
|         |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| [**Man  |   | A upward shift   | **Third party QC  | **The NWQL will   |
| ganese, |   | in the data      | checks do not     | closely monitor   |
| Filt    |   | occurs           | show a shift.**   | for bias.**       |
| ered**] |   | mid-December     |                   |                   |
| (http:/ |   | 2002.            |                   |                   |
| /bqs.us |   |                  |                   |                   |
| gs.gov/ |   | **Analysis       |                   |                   |
| bsp/QAD |   | should still be  |                   |                   |
| ATA_all |   | closely          |                   |                   |
| /MAR03N |   | monitored to     |                   |                   |
| WQL0105 |   | ensure magnitude |                   |                   |
| 6G.gif) |   | of the bias does |                   |                   |
|         |   | not increase.**  |                   |                   |
| *       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| *ICP-MS |   |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode |   |                  |                   |                   |
| 1793    |   |                  |                   |                   |
| p       |   |                  |                   |                   |
| armcode |   |                  |                   |                   |
| 1056G** |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| [**Str  |   | **Increased      | **NWQL monitors   | **The NWQL will   |
| ontium, |   | variability      | performance at    | monitor at the    |
| Filt    |   | starting         | 250μg/L and       | lower             |
| ered**] |   | mid-October      | 2500μg/L. QC      | concentrations    |
| (http:/ |   | 2002.**          | Charts for these  | that IBSP         |
| /bqs.us |   |                  | concentration     | monitors and base |
| gs.gov/ |   | **Since October, | levels are in     | run acceptance on |
| bsp/QAD |   | six out of 19    | control. The      | these performance |
| ATA_all |   | points (32%) are | majority of       | checks. We will   |
| /MAR03N |   | outside of +/-2  | environmental     | continue to       |
| WQL0108 |   | SD.**            | samples received  | monitor for       |
| 0I.gif) |   |                  | are near 250ug/L  | variability. We   |
|         |   |                  | concentration.    | are continuing to |
| *       |   |                  | IBSP monitors     | investigate       |
| *ICP-MS |   |                  | much lower        | issues related to |
| labcode |   |                  | concentrations.** | the increased     |
| 2507    |   |                  |                   | variability       |
| p       |   |                  |                   | including         |
| armcode |   |                  |                   | instrumentation,  |
| 1080I** |   |                  |                   | procedures, and   |
|         |   |                  |                   | blank QC.**       |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
|         |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+

+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| **Major | * |                  | **NWQL**          | **Corrective**    |
| De      | * |                  |                   |                   |
| termina | P |                  | **Lab Comment**   | **Action**        |
| tions** | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
+=========+===+==================+===================+===================+
| [**Ch   | * |                  | **We will         | **No corrective   |
| loride, | * |                  | continue to       | action is         |
| Filt    | A |                  | monitor and       | determined as     |
| ered**] | n |                  | review the line   | yet.**            |
| (http:/ | e |                  | QC to see if a    |                   |
| /bqs.us | g |                  | similar trend is  |                   |
| gs.gov/ | a |                  | noted.**          |                   |
| bsp/QAD | t |                  |                   |                   |
| ATA_all | i |                  |                   |                   |
| /MAR03N | v |                  |                   |                   |
| WQL0094 | e |                  |                   |                   |
| 0J.gif) | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
| **IC    | a |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode | s |                  |                   |                   |
| 1571    | m |                  |                   |                   |
| p       | a |                  |                   |                   |
| armcode | y |                  |                   |                   |
| 0940J** | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | v |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | p |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | g |                  |                   |                   |
|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
|         |   |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
|         | A |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | y |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | u |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | c |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | y |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | u |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | h |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | x |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | Q |                  |                   |                   |
|         | A |                  |                   |                   |
|         | D |                  |                   |                   |
|         | A |                  |                   |                   |
|         | T |                  |                   |                   |
|         | A |                  |                   |                   |
|         | S |                  |                   |                   |
|         | u |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | y |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | r |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | b |                  |                   |                   |
|         | u |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| [**Pot  | * |                  | **Control charts  | **The NWQL will   |
| assium, | * |                  | (QC and blanks)   | continue to       |
| Filt    | A |                  | for the past year | monitor for       |
| ered**] | n |                  | (3/2002 --        | bias.**           |
| (http:/ | e |                  | 3/2003) do not    |                   |
| /bqs.us | g |                  | show an overall   |                   |
| gs.gov/ | a |                  | trend toward a    |                   |
| bsp/QAD | t |                  | negative bias.    |                   |
| ATA_all | i |                  | The most recent   |                   |
| /MAR03N | v |                  | chart (from the   |                   |
| WQL0093 | e |                  | IBSP website,     |                   |
| 5A.gif) | b |                  | 03/26/03) shows   |                   |
|         | i |                  | the negative bias |                   |
| **F     | a |                  | with IBSP samples |                   |
| lame-AA | s |                  | improving.**      |                   |
| lo      | o |                  |                   |                   |
| w-level | f |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode | a |                  |                   |                   |
| 0833    | p |                  |                   |                   |
| p       | p |                  |                   |                   |
| armcode | r |                  |                   |                   |
| 0935A** | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | x |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | m |                  |                   |                   |
|         | a |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | l |                  |                   |                   |
|         | y |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 1 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | 0 |                  |                   |                   |
|         | % |                  |                   |                   |
|         | i |                  |                   |                   |
|         | s |                  |                   |                   |
|         | n |                  |                   |                   |
|         | o |                  |                   |                   |
|         | t |                  |                   |                   |
|         | e |                  |                   |                   |
|         | d |                  |                   |                   |
|         | . |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
|         | * |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
|         |   |                  |                   |                   |
+---------+---+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+

###### 

###### Table 2

OWQRL PERFORMANCE ON IBSP SAMPLES

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

+----------+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| **       | **Problem**      | **OWQRL Lab**     | **Corrective**    |
| Nutrient |                  |                   |                   |
| Determin |                  | **Comment**       | **Action**        |
| ations** |                  |                   |                   |
+==========+==================+===================+===================+
| [Am      | **Variability    | Our internal      | A new bottle of   |
| monia+Or | has increased as | control charts do | mercuric chloride |
| ganic-N, | of October 2002. | not show the      | was ordered and   |
| Fi       | This pattern is  | increase in       | is now being      |
| ltered]( | not demonstrated | variability the   | tested. We will   |
| http://b | by the NWQL.**   | IBSP charts show. | continue to       |
| qs.usgs. |                  | The variability   | monitor this      |
| gov/bsp/ |                  | is also not shown | closely.          |
| QADATA_a |                  | by labcode 1986,  |                   |
| ll/MAR03 |                  | which is run on   |                   |
| OWQRL006 |                  | the same system   |                   |
| 23D.gif) |                  | at the same time. |                   |
|          |                  | A possible        |                   |
| **Colo   |                  | problem was noted |                   |
| rimetric |                  | with the mercuric |                   |
| labcode  |                  | chloride reagent  |                   |
| 1985     |                  | for this          |                   |
| parmcode |                  | determination.    |                   |
| 0623D**  |                  |                   |                   |
+----------+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
|          |                  |                   |                   |
+----------+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| [**Am    | **The slight     | This is also run  | Some of the bias  |
| monia+Or | positive bias    | on the same       | here may be due   |
| ganic-N, | may be           | system as the     | to rounding       |
| Who      | increasing.**    | above analysis.   | error. This       |
| le-Water |                  | There are only 2  | parameter is only |
| Recover  | **Analysis       | samples currently | reported to 1     |
| able**]( | should be        | being used for QA | significant       |
| http://b | closely          | by the IBSP on    | figure in the     |
| qs.usgs. | monitored until  | this line, one of | range of the      |
| gov/bsp/ | the next QADATA  | which is below    | samples that are  |
| QADATA_a | Summary is       | the MDL.          | used for QA. We   |
| ll/MAR03 | distributed.**   |                   | will continue to  |
| OWQRL006 |                  |                   | monitor this      |
| 25E.gif) |                  |                   | closely.          |
| **EPA    |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode  |                  |                   |                   |
| 1995     |                  |                   |                   |
| parmcode |                  |                   |                   |
| 0625E**  |                  |                   |                   |
+----------+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
|          |                  |                   |                   |
+----------+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+

+----------+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| **Trace  | **Problem**      | **OWQRL**         | **Corrective**    |
| Metal    |                  |                   |                   |
| Determin |                  | **Lab Comment**   | **Action**        |
| ations** |                  |                   |                   |
+==========+==================+===================+===================+
| [**      | High variability | A problem with    | Service was       |
| Arsenic, | is still         | the beam combiner | performed on the  |
| Whole    | exhibited. Since | on the SIMAA      | AA to correct the |
| Water    | late October     | graphite furnace  | problem. Samples  |
| Recover  | 2002, three out  | may have led to   | are being rerun   |
| able**]( | of 9 points      | some erratic      | to see if any     |
| http://b | (33%) are        | results.          | data needs to be  |
| qs.usgs. | outside of +/-2  |                   | corrected.        |
| gov/bsp/ | SD.              |                   |                   |
| QADATA_a |                  |                   |                   |
| ll/MAR03 |                  |                   |                   |
| OWQRL010 |                  |                   |                   |
| 021.gif) |                  |                   |                   |
|          |                  |                   |                   |
| **GFAA   |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode  |                  |                   |                   |
| 3119     |                  |                   |                   |
| parmcode |                  |                   |                   |
| 1        |                  |                   |                   |
| 002(1)** |                  |                   |                   |
+----------+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| *        |                  |                   |                   |
| Previous |                  |                   |                   |
| comments |                  |                   |                   |
| for      |                  |                   |                   |
| arsenic, |                  |                   |                   |
| who      |                  |                   |                   |
| le-water |                  |                   |                   |
| reco     |                  |                   |                   |
| verable, |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode  |                  |                   |                   |
| 3119,    |                  |                   |                   |
| parmcode |                  |                   |                   |
| 1002(1)* |                  |                   |                   |
+----------+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| From     | Increased        | Problem with      | Amount of matrix  |
|          | variability      | matrix modifier.  | modifier used was |
| QADATA   | starting late    |                   | adjusted to give  |
| Summary  | October 2002.    |                   | more consistent   |
| January  |                  |                   | results.          |
| 2003     |                  |                   |                   |
+----------+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
|          |                  |                   |                   |
+----------+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+

+----------+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| **Major  | **Problem**      | **OWQRL**         | **Corrective**    |
| Ion      |                  |                   |                   |
| Determin |                  | **Lab Comment**   | **Action**        |
| ations** |                  |                   |                   |
+==========+==================+===================+===================+
| [**      | **A positive     | Positive bias may | Calibration range |
| Calcium, | bias, starting   | be due to         | has been          |
| Filte    | in November      | increased         | adjusted. The     |
| red,**]( | 2002, is         | sensitivity that  | high standard has |
| http://b | demonstrated.    | decreased our     | been lowered from |
| qs.usgs. | The magnitude of | linear range.     | 100 to 80 mg/L.   |
| gov/bsp/ | the bias         |                   | We will continue  |
| QADATA_a | increased in     |                   | to monitor this.  |
| ll/MAR03 | December.**      |                   |                   |
| OWQRL009 |                  |                   |                   |
| 151.gif) |                  |                   |                   |
|          |                  |                   |                   |
| **ICP\   |                  |                   |                   |
| labcode  |                  |                   |                   |
| 3016     |                  |                   |                   |
| parmcode |                  |                   |                   |
| 0        |                  |                   |                   |
| 915(1)** |                  |                   |                   |
+----------+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
|          |                  |                   |                   |
+----------+------------------+-------------------+-------------------+