Frequently Asked Questions

Washington State Department of Ecology

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

How do I choose an analytical laboratory?

How do I find the method codes for my lab's accredited methods?

These codes are now conveniently available to you for the methods for which your lab is accredited. You can view the codes alongside the methods for which your lab is accredited by entering all or part of your lab name in the “Laboratory Name” box on our lab query web page: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/eap/acclabs/labquery.asp and clicking on the “Show results” button at the bottom of the page. When your lab appears in the query results, click on your lab name for the list of your accredited parameters with codes. The codes listed in the column labeled “NELAC code” are the codes you must use when you report data to your PT provider. These codes are also listed on your Add/Delete form included with your renewal application packet.

How do I find the method codes for new methods (not currently on my Scope) for which I want to request accreditation?

“You can find method codes at the following link: http://www.nelac-institute.org/lams/test_methods

Type the method, for example, EPA 200.7, in the Reference box and then click on “Filter.” A list of EPA 200.7 versions with codes should appear. Please keep in mind, we accredit for the latest/approved versions of methods, even if we are recognizing a third party accreditation for an earlier version. Please see the links in the FAQ section for the latest/approved methods.

Here are a few examples of the latest/approved methods, with codes:

EPA 200.7, Revision 4.4 (1994) 10013806

EPA 200.8, Revision 5.4 (1994) 10014605

EPA 6010C, Revision 3 (2007) 10155905

EPA 6020A, Revision 1 (2007) 10156419

EPA 8260C, Revision 3 (2006) 10307003

EPA 8270D, Revision 4 (2007) 10186002

Control Charts. How can I visually track performance to determine when a procedure is not meeting data quality objectives?

Do you need to know about containers, preservation techniques or holding times for a common analysis?

For Clean Water Act, refer to the Code of Federal Regulation, Title 40 Part 136 Section 3 (40 CFR 136.3), Guidelines for Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants. The information is in Table II, Required Containers, Preservation Techniques, and Holding Times. The information is on page 52. Here is a link to 40 CFR 136.3. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2009/julqtr/pdf/40cfr136.3.pdf

For methods in Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste Physical/Chemical Methods (SW-846), the holding times are listed in for inorganic analytes in Chapter Three. For organic analytes, the holding times are in Chapter Four. Here is the link for SW-846: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/test/main.htm#chap