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**Safe Drinking Water Act Analytical Methods and  Laboratory Certification**

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# Laboratory Certification Program

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EPA’s  Office of Water implements the Drinking Water Laboratory Certification Program  in partnership with EPA Regions and States. Laboratories must be certified by  EPA or the State to analyze drinking water samples for compliance monitoring.  Certified laboratories must successfully analyze proficiency testing samples  annually, use approved methods, and successfully pass periodic on-site audits.  EPA recommends that consumers use State certified laboratories for water  testing.
    - On this page        - State Certification  Programs  
      - Laboratory Certification  Manual  
      - Certification Officer  Training  
      - Proficiency Testing  Studies  
      - Other EPA Laboratory  Approval  
      - Laboratory Certification Bulletins  
      - Laboratory Fraud 

### State  Certification Programs 

Contact your  State Certification Program for a list of certified laboratories and to answer  technical questions. Questions may also be directed to the Safe Drinking Water  Hotline.
    - State Certification Programs
    - Safe Drinking Water Hotline

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### Laboratory  Certification Manual 

The Manual  describes the Drinking Water Laboratory Certification Program implementation  procedures, laboratory procedures, and technical criteria laboratories must  meet to analyze drinking water compliance samples.
    - Manual for       the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water, Fifth Edition PDF  (209pp, 4M)    EPA 815-R-05-004, January 2005           -  Supplement to the Fifth Edition of the Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water PDF  (9pp, 59K)           EPA 815-F-08-006, June 2008 
    Order a hardcopy of the manual       through EPA’s digital publications National Environmental Publications       Internet Site (NEPIS) database
.

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### Certification  Officer Training

EPA  conducts chemistry and microbiology Certification Officer Training courses.

Training  attendees:
    - Must be nominated by their       Regional Certification Officer to attend the training.
    - Should be experienced       professionals.
    - Should have at least a       bachelor's degree or equivalent education/experience in the discipline       they will certify.
    - Should have recent laboratory       experience in the discipline they will audit.

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### Proficiency Testing  Studies

Certified  laboratories must successfully analyze proficiency testing (PT) samples  annually for each method that they desire certification.

State  Certification Programs may:
    - Require laboratories to       participate in a specific private sector PT program and have the results       sent to the State by the PT study provider.
    - Elect to serve as PT study       providers themselves.
    - Permit a laboratory to       participate in any accredited PT study and have the results sent to the       State.

Many States  use PT providers accredited by the American Association for Laboratory  Accreditation (A2LA). The NELAC Institute (TNI) selected A2LA as the PT  Oversight Body and PT Accreditation Provider. 
    - The NELAC Institute (TNI)
    - American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)

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### Other EPA  Laboratory Approval

EPA  implements laboratory approval programs for contaminants not covered under  State certification programs. This includes the program for *Cryptosporidium* monitoring under the  Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and the program for analyses  under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule – Cycle 2.

Laboratories  that analyze source water samples for *Cryptosporidium* under the Safe Drinking Water Act must be approved by EPA.
    - Cryptosporidium  Laboratory Quality Assurance Program

Laboratories  that analyze samples for the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule – Cycle 2  must be approved by EPA.
    - UCMR  2 Laboratory Approval Program

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### Laboratory Certification  Bulletins

EPA publishes Laboratory Certification (LabCert) Bulletins periodically. The  bulletins contain information of interest to drinking water laboratories and  drinking water laboratory certification officers. 
    - March 2003 Bulletin
    - January 2002 Bulletin
    - March 2001 Bulletin
    - January 2000 Bulletin

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### Laboratory Fraud

EPA  recommends that state laboratory certification programs and certified labs  develop fraud detection programs to ensure that the public can have confidence  in drinking water analytical results. 

If you suspect fraudulent activity  related to drinking water analysis, notify: 
    - your  State or Regional points of  contact , or 
    - contact  EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) . 

If the suspected  fraud involves EPA staff, programs or contracts, contact EPA’s Office of  Inspector General (OIG).

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