New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Chapter 18 - REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE CERTIFICATION OF LABORATORIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENTS › Subchapter 7 - TOXICITY TESTING › Section 7:18-7.7 - Laboratory quality control and recordkeeping

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) A laboratory
				performing acute toxicity testing shall develop and implement a quality control
				program. The laboratory shall not perform acute toxicity testing without having
				such a program. The laboratory shall have a written description of its program
				on file and be able to produce a copy during an on-site inspection. The written
				description shall include all methods manuals used for culturing test
				organisms, and all testing protocols used by the laboratory. The quality
				control program description, or standard operating procedures (SOP) manual,
				shall be specific to the operations of the laboratory and not a generalized
				document.
(b) The laboratory shall
				make records of all analytical control tests and quality control checks on
				equipment and materials. The laboratory shall maintain the records for at least
				five years. The laboratory shall file and maintain data and other records in an
				accessible location on the laboratory's premises for one year after the date of
				analysis so that reviews can be conducted during on-site audits.
(c) If the laboratory discovers an error in
				the analysis of a regulatory sample, and the error may affect the validity of
				the reported analytical result, the environmental laboratory manager shall
				report the error to the regulatory program for which the analysis was
				conducted, and to the client. The laboratory shall make this notification
				within 72 hours after discovery of the error.
(d) Laboratories performing acute toxicity
				testing shall comply with the following requirements when performing quality
				control checks of laboratory media, equipment, and supplies:
1. Operate each pH meter in accordance with
				7:18-3.3(a)3.
				Rinse the probe with laboratory pure water immediately after each use period.
				Label commercial buffer solutions with the date of receipt and the date of
				initial use;
2. Operate top loader
				or pan balances in accordance with
				7:18-3.3(a)2;
3. Verify all temperature measuring devices
				using the procedures listed in
				7:18-3.3(a)5;
4. The temperature of air or water-jacketed
				incubators, aluminum block incubators, water baths, and incubator rooms shall
				be recorded either continuously or daily from in-place thermometers immersed in
				liquid and placed on at least one of the shelves in use. Keep the records in a
				log book, signed and dated by the analyst;
5. Record date, time, pressure and
				temperature of an autoclave either continuously, or individually during each
				sterilization cycle. Keep the records in a log book, signed and dated by the
				analyst;
6. The time and
				temperature of hot air ovens shall be measured with a thermometer either
				continuously or individually during each cycle, with the bulb of the
				thermometer placed in sand. Record the date, time and temperature of each
				cycle. Keep the records in a log book, signed and dated by the
				analyst;
7. Monitor the temperature
				of each refrigerator in accordance with the procedures listed in
				7:18-3.3(a)7;
8. Label all reagents and solutions to
				indicate identity and, when applicable, titer, strength or concentration,
				manufacturer's recommended storage requirements, preparation and expiration
				date, and other information pertinent to identification. Do not use materials
				of substandard reactivity or deteriorated materials. Discard all outdated
				material immediately;
9. At least
				annually, check conductivity and salinity meters equipped with conductivity
				cells having platinum electrodes. Perform the check over the range of interest
				using at least five concentrations of a standard potassium chloride solution.
				Check conductivity cells not having platinum electrodes against a conductivity
				meter equipped with platinum electrodes. Perform this check annually and record
				the raw data, cell constant, and results in a log book, signed and dated by the
				analyst; and
10. Check dissolved
				oxygen meters weekly, using the Winkler method. Record the results in a log
				book signed and dated by the analyst.