Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: a5cfec96-8785-464b-ada8-dc4424b90606
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Quality Assurance for Radiological Monitoring Programs
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 4
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0630/ML063060429.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-4.15
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
nternal or external program of analyzing performance-testing samples appropriate for the analytes and matrices under consideration (i.e., PE program traceable to a national standards body, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States). Reference-material samples used to evaluate the performance of the laboratory are called performance-evaluation or performance-testing samples or materials. See CERTIFIED REFERENCE MATERIAL and STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIAL. performance indicator: Instrument- or protocol-related parameter routinely monitored to assess the laboratory’s estimate of controls such as chemical yield, instrument background, UNCERTAINTY, PRECISION, and BIAS. See BACKGROUND (INSTRUMENT). performance testing: See PERFORMANCE EVALUATION PROGRAM. precision: The closeness of agreement between independent test results obtained by applying the experimental procedure under stipulated conditions. Conversely, imprecision is the variation of the results in a set of REPLICATE measurements. Precision may be expressed as the standard deviation (IUPAC, 1994). quality assurance (QA): An integrated system of management activities involving planning, implementation, assessment, reporting, and quality improvement to ensure that a process, item, or service is of the type and quality needed and expected. Quality assurance includes QUALITY CONTROL. quality assurance (QA) project plan: A formal document describing in detail the necessary QUALITY ASSURANCE, QUALITY CONTROL, and other technical activities that must be implemented to ensure that the results of the work performed will satisfy the stated performance criteria. The QA project plan describes policy, organization, and functional activities and the DATA QUALITY OBJECTIVES and measures necessary to achieve adequate data for use in selecting the appropriate remedy. quality control (QC): The overall system of technical activities that measures the attributes and performance of a