West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 47 - Water Resources, Division Of Water And Waste Management › Title 47 - LEGISLATIVE RULE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES › Series 47-32 - Environmental Laboratories Certification And Standards Of Performance › Section 47-32-4 - Laboratory Requirements

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
A certified laboratory or a laboratory seeking certification
				  must continually meet and follow the requirements of this section.
4.1. Laboratories will have on the premises
				and under the control of the laboratory manager all of the equipment and
				instruments necessary to analyze each parameter in which the laboratory is
				certified, or is seeking certification. All equipment must meet the minimum
				standards required by the test method used.
4.2. General Requirements for All
				Laboratories.
4.2.1. Adequate laboratory space
				and facilities, to include equipment and instruments must be available to
				properly carry out the services performed in the laboratory.
4.2.2. Laboratory work areas will be arranged
				so as to minimize problems in contamination, transportation and
				communication.
4.2.3. Workbench
				space within the laboratory must be ample for the tests or analyses to be
				performed, have adequate lighting and be convenient to a sink, water, gas,
				vacuum and electrical outlets or other utilities as necessary to properly carry
				out the specific tests or analyses to be performed.
4.2.4. Temperature and humidity within the
				laboratory are to be maintained within the limits required for the proper
				performance of each test or analysis, the proper operation of the various
				instruments, and the proper storage of expendable supplies.
4.2.5. pH meters must have an accuracy of and
				scale graduations within 0.1 standard unit.
4.2.6. Analytical and pan balances are to be
				clean, not corroded, and be provided with Class-S weights or equivalent.
				Analytical balances will be capable of weighing to 0.1 milligram minimum. Pan
				balances will be capable of weighing to 100 milligrams.
4.2.6.a. An analytical balance must be
				mounted on a heavy, shockproof table. The balance level must be checked each
				use and adjusted as necessary;
4.2.6.b. An analytical balance must be
				located in an area that is not near laboratory traffic and is protected from
				drafts and humidity changes; and
4.2.6.c. Three Class-S or equivalent weights
				are to be available for checking the analytical balance. These weights must
				cover the range expected to be encountered during routine analyses.
4.2.7. All temperature measuring
				devices will be graduated in one degree Celsius (or 2 degrees Fahrenheit)
				increments and readable to 0.5 degrees Celsius (1 degree Fahrenheit) for all
				analyses except fecal coliform analysis; in which case glass or metal
				thermometers are to be readable to 0.2 degrees Celsius.
4.2.7.a. Continuous temperature recording
				devices will be sensitive and accurate to within 1.0 degree Celsius (2 degrees
				Fahrenheit).
4.2.7.b. The column of
				liquid in glass thermometers will have no separation.
4.2.7.c. Liquid column in glass and
				electronic type thermometers without a current manufacturer's certificate of
				accuracy must be verified as accurate annually. All other types, to include
				Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC) devices, must be verified as accurate
				quarterly. Verification must be accomplished by comparison to a certified
				thermometer traceable to a National Institute for Standards Testing
				thermometer. See also paragraph 5.2.2.g for additional thermometer
				requirements.
4.2.7.d. Each
				temperature measuring device must be uniquely identified. The results of
				accuracy verifications must be documented. The corrected temperature must be
				recorded whenever temperatures are required to be recorded.
4.2.8. Sample storage
				refrigerators must maintain an internal temperature of [LESS THAN EQUAL TO] 6
				degrees Celsius.
4.2.9. Laboratory
				glassware, plastic ware, and metal utensils will meet the following
				requirements:
4.2.9.a. Glassware and metal
				utensils must resist corrosion, and be capable of withstanding high
				temperatures, and vigorous cleaning;
4.2.9.b. Flasks, beakers, dilution bottles,
				culture dishes, culture tubes and other glassware are to be of borosilicate
				glass and free of chips, cracks, and excessive etching;
4.2.9.c. Volumetric glassware must be Class A
				and need not be calibrated before use. Non Class A glassware must be calibrated
				before use; and
4.2.9.d. Metal
				utensils must be made of stainless steel or other inert material.
4.2.10. Pipettes must meet the
				following requirements:
4.2.10.a. Glass
				pipettes are to be made of borosilicate glass;
4.2.10.b. Plastic pipettes must be compatible
				with the reagents being measured, i.e. will not dissolve or show signs of
				etching or numbers being removed;
4.2.10.c. Plastic pipettes must be sterile or
				sterilizable for microbiological procedures;
4.2.10.d. Pipettes must deliver the required
				volume quickly and accurately within a 2.5 percent tolerance; and
4.2.10.e. Pipettes must not be excessively
				etched, nor the mouthpiece or delivery tips chipped, or the graduation marks
				illegible.
4.2.11.
				Magnetic stirrers must have variable speeds, and use Teflon coated stirring
				bars.
4.2.12. Volumetric dispensing
				devices including autopipetors, autotitrators and digital burets must be of
				sufficient sensitivity for the application. Delivery volumes of mechanical
				volumetric dispensing devices must be checked using the gravimetric method or
				using Class A volumetric glassware once every 3 months.
4.2.13. All purchased reagents and solutions
				must be certified as appropriate for the intended use by the manufacturer or
				supplier or must be verified as appropriate by the laboratory prior to
				use.