Illinois Administrative Code › Title 77 - PUBLIC HEALTH › Part 465 - CERTIFICATION AND OPERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORIES › Subpart B - MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SAMPLES › Section 465.310 - Personnel Requirements

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
a) The
				microbiology laboratory supervisor shall have a minimum of a bachelor's degree
				in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or related natural or physical science
				field, shall have completed a training course conducted or approved by the
				Department, and shall have received Department approval to serve as laboratory
				supervisor. In addition, the laboratory supervisor shall have had a minimum of
				80 hours of on-the-job training in water microbiology at a certified
				laboratory. The supervisor shall demonstrate the ability to properly perform
				representative test procedures under the supervisor's supervision while under
				observation by the certification officer. A laboratory supervisor shall be a
				full-time employee who is on-site at the certified laboratory. If the
				laboratory supervisor position becomes vacant, then a replacement supervisor
				shall be in place within 60 days.
b) The parasitology principal
				analyst/supervisor shall have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in microbiology
				or a closely related field, shall have a minimum of one year of bench
				experience with Cryptosporidium and immunofluorescence assay (FA) microscopy,
				have a minimum of six months experience using Method 1623 or 1623.1, and have
				analyzed a minimum of 100 samples using Method 1623 or 1623.1. The principal
				analyst/supervisor shall participate in a monthly analyst verification, shall
				supervise and verify the processing and microscopy in the laboratory, and may
				perform the same duties as an analyst. The principal analyst/supervisor shall
				ensure that all laboratory personnel are able to perform the analyses to which
				they are assigned and that all data reported by the laboratory meet the
				required quality assurance and regulatory criteria.
c) A microbiology analyst performs
				microbiological analyses on water, shall have a minimum of a high school
				diploma and shall have a minimum of 30 days of on-the-job training in drinking
				water microbiology under an experienced analyst. In addition, an analyst shall
				be able to perform representative test procedures with which the analyst is
				involved while under the observation of the certification officer. Analysts
				shall be under the direct supervision of the laboratory supervisor. Before
				analyzing compliance samples, the analyst shall demonstrate acceptable results
				on samples spiked with known culture controls.
d) A parasitology analyst establishes Kohler
				illumination for the microscope, may perform the same duties as a technician,
				and is able to examine samples using the microscope. An analyst shall have a
				minimum of two years of college with courses in microbiology or a closely
				related field, a minimum of six months of bench experience with Cryptosporidium
				and FA microscopy, and a minimum of three months of experience using Method
				1623 or 1623.1. The analyst shall participate in a monthly analyst
				verification.
e) A parasitology
				technician filters samples, performs centrifugation, elution, concentration,
				and purification using immunomagnetic separation (IMS), and prepares purified
				samples on slides for microscopic examination, but does not perform microscopic
				protozoan identification. A technician shall have a minimum of three months of
				experience in filter extraction and processing of protozoa samples by Method
				1623 or 1623.1 and have analyzed a minimum of 50 samples using Method 1623 or
				1623.1 for the specific procedures that he or she will be using.
f) The Department may waive the need for the
				academic training required by this Section, on a case-by-case basis, for highly
				experienced analysts who hold a high school equivalency certificate.
g) The Department may waive the need for the
				college education and training required by this Section, on a case-by-case
				basis, for supervisors of microbiology laboratories that analyze samples from
				drinking water systems with which the laboratory is associated. The supervisor
				shall have a minimum of 10 years experience in water microbiology and shall
				have demonstrated a working knowledge of Quality Assurance activities as
				justification for the waiver.
h)
				The Department may waive college education in lieu of experience for a
				parasitology supervisor or analyst who has greater than 10 years experience of
				protozoan identification duties.
i)
				If a waiver is granted, the Department will prepare a written and signed
				justification for the waiver.
j)
				The Certification Officer shall have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in
				microbiology, biology, chemistry, or related natural or physical science field.
				The Certification Officer will have had a minimum of 80 hours of on-the-job
				training in water microbiology at a certified laboratory. Certification Officer
				shall have successfully completed the appropriate USEPA Laboratory
				Certification Officer Course and thereafter, audit the course every 5 years.
				The Certification Officer shall receive periodic training regarding newly
				promulgated regulations, newly adopted certification criteria, and new methods.
				This could be done by auditing the EPA Certification Officer Course or
				attending Regional or State Certification Officer Meeting. Certification
				Officer shall be a full-time employee of the Department.
k) The Program Certification Manager shall
				have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or
				related natural or physical science field, in addition will have had a minimum
				of 80 hours of on-the-job training in water microbiology at a certified
				laboratory. Program Certification Manager shall audit the appropriate USEPA
				Laboratory Certification Officer Course and thereafter, audit the course every
				5 years. The Certification Program Manager will ensure a mechanism for
				Certification Officers to receive periodic training regarding newly promulgated
				regulations, newly adopted certification criteria and new methods. This could
				be done by auditing the EPA Certification Officer Course or attending Regional
				or State Certification Officer Meeting. Program Certification Manager shall be
				a full-time employee of the Department.