# Presentation: 459556

## Laboratory Evaluation Help Center

- Step-by-Step Guidance for the “**Project Form”**

## NOTICE

- The two forms provided on the BQS website for project information and data collection are not live at this time. The programming should be completed soon, and we will notify you when you can enter data directly into the web.
- For now, please copy the form to your computer and use them as templates.

## The Project Form

- The Project Form is where you will capture the project analytical needs.
- The Project Form requires planning of the QA samples you might provide to the lab to assure the data quality.

## The Project Form

| 
Project Chief |  | Project Name |  | Project ID |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other project emails: |  |  |  |  |  |
| Lab Name |  | Lab City |  | Lab Contact Name |  |
| NWIS Lab ID |  | Lab State |  | Lab Contact Phone |  |
| Project Start Date: |  | Estimated End Date: |  | Approval Date: |  |

**REQUESTED ANALYSES **Please list below the analytes and the methods (if known) you would like the laboratory to provide.

| 
Analyte (Pcode) | Matrix | Range Low | Range High | Units | Method Requested |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |

**PROFICIENCY TEST SAMPLE SCHEDULES**

| INITIAL TEST |  |  |  |  |  | ON-GOING TESTS |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Analyte (Pcode) | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc. | units | # samples |  | Analyte (Pcode) | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc | units | # samples | Per (unit time) |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

## Project Form - Contact Info

| Project Chief |  | Project Name |  | Project ID |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other project emails: |  |  |  |  |  |
| Lab Name |  | Lab City |  | Lab Contact Name |  |
| NWIS Lab ID |  | Lab State |  | Lab Contact Phone |  |
| Project Start Date: |  | Estimated End Date: |  | Approval Date: |  |

- The first table in the Project Form captures contact information for the project and the laboratory. This information is used to index the laboratory and your project in the database so you can find your project and laboratory in the future and other projects can search for analyte specific performance from various laboratories.

## Project Form - Project Info

| Project Chief |  | Project Name |  | Project ID |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other project emails: |  |  |  |  |  |
| Lab Name |  | Lab City |  | Lab Contact Name |  |
| NWIS Lab ID |  | Lab State |  | Lab Contact Phone |  |
| Project Start Date: |  | Estimated End Date: |  | Approval Date: |  |

- Insert the name of the Project Chief.

- Name the project with a short name

- Insert the Project ID Number, if you have one.

## Project Form - Other Contacts

| Project Chief |  | Project Name |  | Project ID |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other project emails: | Email address 1 |  | Email address 2 |  | Email address 3 |
| Lab Name |  | Lab City |  | Lab Contact Name |  |
| NWIS Lab ID |  | Lab State |  | Lab Contact Phone |  |
| Project Start Date: |  | Estimated End Date: |  | Approval Date: |  |

- Enter other individual email addresses of people you’d like to have included in BQS correspondence.

## Project Form - Lab Address

| Project Chief |  | Project Name |  | Project ID |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other project emails: |  |  |  |  |  |
| Lab Name |  | Lab City |  | Lab Contact Name |  |
| NWIS Lab ID |  | Lab State |  | Lab Contact Phone |  |
| Project Start Date: |  | Estimated End Date: |  | Approval Date: |  |

- Fill in the lab name you are considering, city, state, and if you know a specific person to contact at the lab, include their name and phone number.

## Project Form - Lab ID No.

| Project Chief |  | Project Name |  | Project ID |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other project emails: |  |  |  |  |  |
| Lab Name |  | Lab City |  | Lab Contact Name |  |
| NWIS Lab ID |  | Lab State |  | Lab Contact Phone |  |
| Project Start Date: |  | Estimated End Date: |  | Approval Date: |  |

- If the laboratory doesn’t have an NWIS identification number, apply for a number through NWIS. If you have to wait to get this number, leave this number empty for now, and fill it in when you get the number.

## Project Form - Project Time Table

| Project Chief |  | Project Name |  | Project ID |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other project emails: |  |  |  |  |  |
| Lab Name |  | Lab City |  | Lab Contact Name |  |
| NWIS Lab ID |  | Lab State |  | Lab Contact Phone |  |
| Project Start Date: |  | Estimated End Date: |  | Approval Date: |  |

- If the project is already underway, include the approximate date it actually started, otherwise enter the date you are starting.

- If you know when the project will end, enter that date. Otherwise leave this blank.

- The approval date can not be entered until this process is complete. Do not enter anything in this field for now. You will come back and enter this date when complete.

## Project Form – End of First Table

| Project Chief |  | Project Name |  | Project ID |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other project emails: |  |  |  |  |  |
| Lab Name |  | Lab City |  | Lab Contact Name |  |
| NWIS Lab ID |  | Lab State |  | Lab Contact Phone |  |
| Project Start Date: |  | Estimated End Date: |  | Approval Date: |  |

- You are now done with Table 1.

## Table 2. Requested Analyses

| Analyte | Matrix | Range Low | Range High | Units | Method Requested |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |

- List ALL analytes you want the lab to analyze for you.

- List the matrix (medium) from which the analyte will be measured. This choice will limit the analytical method choices to the appropriate method for the matrix.

## Table 2. Ranges

| Analyte | Matrix | Range Low | Range High | Units | Method Requested |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |

- Hopefully you know something about what concentrations might be expected from your project. We ask this to make sure you have laboratory QA data to support your range of interest.
- “Range Low” is asking for the lowest concentration you think you might encounter.
- “Range High” is asking for the highest concentration you think you might encounter.
- “Units” is the amount per unit, such as mg/L or ug/Kg.

## Table 2. Method

| Analyte | Matrix | Range Low | Range High | Units | Method Requested |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |

- Only enter something in the “Method Requested” field if you know what analytical method (e.g, - EPA 200.7) you need the laboratory to use.
- You can leave this field empty and have the lab tell you what method is appropriate for your analytes and concentrations.

## Table 3 – Proficiency Test Samples

| INITIAL TEST |  |  |  |  |  | ON-GOING TESTS |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Analyte (Pcode) | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc. | units | # samples |  | Analyte (Pcode) | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc | units | # samples | Per (unit time) |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

- Table 3 on the Project Form has two parts – the information required for the “INITIAL TEST” (before you start using this lab) and the information required for the “ON-GOING TESTS” (while you are actually using the lab).
- These fields are for planning the kinds of test samples you will require of the lab, and how many of each will provide you with enough information to make a decision about the quality of the data.

## Table 3 – INITIAL TEST

| INITIAL TEST |  |  |  |  |  | ON-GOING TESTS |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Analyte  | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc. | units | # samples |  | Analyte (Pcode) | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc | units | # samples | Per (unit time) |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

- The “Initial Test” form asks for the minimal information to help you plan how to get data to support your use of this laboratory.
- Sometimes, laboratories already have blind sample results from tests they have performed for other reasons. You can use these data if they are the correct method and concentration. For these cases you’ll still fill out this form, because you need to let everyone know that you do have a plan for test samples.

## Table 3 – Analyte List

| INITIAL TEST |  |  |  |  |  | ON-GOING TESTS |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Analyte | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc. | units | # samples |  | Analyte (Pcode) | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc | units | # samples | Per (unit time) |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

- List the analytes you are having the laboratory analyze. (You need to have performance data for everything you want analyzed, so you should be repeating the list from Table 1.)
- You can copy the list you made in Table 1 so you don’t have to retype anything. When these forms are live on the web, the program will fill out the analyte names for you, based on the information already provided.

## Table 3 – Source of Samples

| INITIAL TEST |  |  |  |  |  | ON-GOING TESTS |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Analyte | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc. | units | # samples |  | Analyte (Pcode) | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc | units | # samples | Per (unit time) |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

- List where you are obtaining the test samples for this analyte. The laboratory can be a source if they have blind sample results.  Enter “Lab” in this case. Otherwise, BQS can help you find sample sources.

## Table 3 – Concentrations

| INITIAL TEST |  |  |  |  |  | ON-GOING TESTS |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Analyte | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc. | units | # samples |  | Analyte (Pcode) | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc | units | # samples | Per (unit time) |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

- List the concentration that approximates your concentration range of interest and the units (you can copy the units from Table 1 if they are the same).
- Do you need multiple solutions to cover the expected range?
- You can decide if all concentrations need to be tested during the “Initial Test” of the laboratory. Sometimes you do.
- Sometimes, you can decide to cover other concentrations during the “On-going Test” throughout the life of the project.

## Table 3 – How Many Samples?

| INITIAL TEST |  |  |  |  |  | ON-GOING TESTS |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Analyte | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc. | units | # samples |  | Analyte (Pcode) | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc | units | # samples | Per (unit time) |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

- How many results do you require to determine if the data are appropriate for your needs?
**Suggestion** – If using test sample results supplied by the laboratory, at least one years worth or a minimum of 3 sample results.
- If using your own test samples, a minimum of three.

## Table 3 – On-Going Tests

| INITIAL TEST |  |  |  |  |  | ON-GOING TESTS |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Analyte | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc. | units | # samples |  | Analyte | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc. | units | # samples | Per (unit time) |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

- On-going tests of laboratory performance are required throughout your project to assure that everything is still of acceptable quality.
**You** will define the frequency and types of tests to perform.
- You may not be able to fill this form out until you get the initial test results back from the lab. This would happen if the initial test results are shaky, or if you learn something that would change the frequency or concentration of sample submittals.

## Table 3 – Analytes

| INITIAL TEST |  |  |  |  |  | ON-GOING TESTS |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Analyte | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc. | units | # samples |  | Analyte  | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc | units | # samples | Per (unit time) |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

- This is the same list of analytes found in Table 1, and in the Initial Test column to the right. Copy and paste. (You can make a separate table for on-going tests if this one is getting too wide.)

## Table 3 – Source of Samples

| INITIAL TEST |  |  |  |  |  | ON-GOING TESTS |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Analyte | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc. | units | # samples |  | Analyte  | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc | units | # samples | Per (unit time) |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

- List where you are obtaining the test samples for this analyte. The laboratory can be a source if they have blind sample results.  Enter “Lab” if this is the case. Otherwise, BQS can help you find sample sources.

## Table 3 – Concentrations

| INITIAL TEST |  |  |  |  |  | ON-GOING TESTS |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Analyte | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc. | units | # samples |  | Analyte  | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc | units | # samples | Per (unit time) |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

- You can cover multiple concentrations during your project. List the concentration(s) you plan to QC.
- You can copy the units from Table 1, or from the Initial Test “units” column in this table, if they are the same.

## Table 3 – How Many Samples?

| INITIAL TEST |  |  |  |  |  | ON-GOING TESTS |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Analyte | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc. | units | # samples |  | Analyte  | Source (vendor) | Approx Conc | units | # samples | Per 
(unit time) |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

- How many results do you require per unit time to determine if the data are appropriate for your needs?
- Example: 3 samples every 4 months.

## END of Project Form

- You can send a copy of the completed form along with a cover letter to the lab to request their data. We have created an example _[Cover Letter](http://bqs.usgs.gov/lep/cover_letter.doc)_ for you if you would like an example. A phone call to the lab is probably a really good idea as well.

- To first slide

- Return to LEP Website