From:   Charles N. Dyer

Date:   January 14, 2002 

 Re:    Subcontracting Analyses
           PT Requirements
           Multiple Methods on PTs
           Secondary Accreditation
           Bill Hall
           On-Site Assessments for 2002
           Certified Laboratories

A laboratory must advise clients in writing of its intention to subcontract any portion of the testing to another laboratory (5.14.a). There are several ways in which this can be done. The written letter, of course, but e-mail or a statement on the client instructions are also acceptable methods. Once a laboratory has become NELAC accredited, it must subcontract to only other NELAC accredited laboratories for those analyses for which the laboratory is accredited (5.14.b). The report must state the name or ID number of lab subcontracted to. (5.13.c). Also remember, WSEB rules require any data reported for determining compliance with the SDWA to be from a NH accredited laboratory. All work for compliance data must be subcontracted to a NH DES accredited laboratory.

You must ask your PT provider(s) to send the results directly to NH ELAP. One PT provider has a "NELAC" Report and a "Complete" Report. NH ELAP must have the "Complete" Report. The "NELAC" Report includes only those analyses on the PT committee's June 2000 analyte list.

In order to meet the drinking water requirement that the laboratory successfully analyze a PT at least once per year, some laboratories analyze an analyte by multiple methods in the same study. If you analyze by multiple methods, NH ELAP must be sent the results for all methods. You may have to ask your PT provider to do this. There are risks in analyzing an analyte by multiple methods on the same study. You must be successful for all methods or it is considered a failed study for the NELAC requirement.

Care must be taken to accurately report the method(s) used. You should have requested accreditation for analyses on your application form. Also, be sure that if you analyze a sample by a combined method such as 624/8260 that you report both methods or that you rotate the method reported if you need both methods.

Two consecutive studies must be at least 30 days between the end of one study and the start of the next. They should be no more than 6 months apart. Failure to have results submitted is considered a failed study.

Secondary accreditation is not automatically granted to a laboratory. The laboratory must apply to the NH Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, pay the same fee as laboratories requesting primary accreditation (it is as time consuming keeping track of the accreditation status from its primary accrediting authority as it is to prepare analyte lists from multiple PT providers who all have their own way of doing things), and submit a copy of its current certificate(s) from the laboratory's primary accrediting authorities. When a laboratory holding secondary accreditation receives a new certificate from its primary AA, a copy must be sent to NH DES. We have started a new tracking system that will determine when the certificates we have on file have expired. Some of you will have a letter with this informing you that we need current certificates. The laboratory must also include a copy of the report of its latest on-site assessment and its responses to those reports with its initial application for secondary accreditation. These last 2 items are for informational purposes only.

We no longer need PT results, MDLs, QS Manual, or SOPs sent to NH DES. These will be recycled without review if sent.

As many of you already know, Bill Hall is in the Naval Reserves. His unit was ordered to report to active duty on November 11, 2001. He will be on active duty for up to one year. Because of the time involved in training someone to fill in for him, I will be working alone until he returns. If you have sent him a message in the last 2 months that did not get answered, please resend it to me.

Below you will find the schedule for on-site assessments for 2002. Assessments, which in the past had two assessors, will have only one assessor this time. For that reason, the assessor will be on-site more days.

1/22-25/02	Analytics, Portsmouth, NH	8/5-8/02	Keene WWTP, Keene, NH
2/11-15/02	Maine Environmental, Yarmouth, ME	8/19-23, 28/02	Chemserve, Milford, NH
3/4-7/02	Omega Labs, Somersworth, NH	9/9-12/02	Epping Well & Pump
3/18-22,27/02	AMRO, Merrimack, NH	9/16-19/02	Manchester WW, Manchester, NH
4/8-11/02	Claremont WW, Claremont, NH	9/30-10/3/02	Dover WWTP, Dover, NH
4/29-5/3	Aquarian, Canterbury, NH	10/15-18/02	Seacoast Analytical, Durham, NH
5/20-24, 29/02	Granite State, Derry, NH	10/28-31/02	Fall Mountain, Charlestown, NH
6/3-6/02	Merrimack WWTP, Merrimack, NH	11/6-8/02	Gorham WW, Gorham, NH
6/17-21/02	ME State Lab, Augusta, ME	11/18-22/02	Scott Lawson Group, Bow, NH
7/1-3/02	Derry WWTP, Derry, NH	12/2-5/02	Laconia WW, Laconia, NH
7/22-26/02	Envirosystems, Hampton, NH	12/16-19/02	Somersworth WCP, Somersworth, NH

As of January 24, 2002, all laboratories must be NELAC accredited in order to be in the New Hampshire program. A few labs are in the process of obtaining accreditation, but will not have it before January 24th. A few have asked if their certification can be extended or we could grant Interim Accreditation. We unable to do either.