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Ciivanterra <br /> Environmental <br /> Services <br /> QUANTERRA'S QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM <br /> L Quanterra has implemented an extensive Quality Assurance (QA) program to.ensure the <br /> production of scientifically sound, legally defensible data of known documentable quality. A <br /> key element of'this program is Quanterra's Laboratory Control Sample (LCS) system. <br /> Controlling lab operations with LCS (as opposed to matrix spike/matrix spike duplicate <br /> samples), allows the lab to differentiate between bias as a result of procedural errors versus <br /> bias due to matrix effects. The analyst can then identify and implement the appropriate <br /> corrective actions at the bench level, without waiting for extensive senior level review or <br /> costly and time-consuming sample re-analyses. The LCS program also provides our client <br /> i with information to assess batch, and overall laboratory performance. <br /> Laboratory Control Samples - (LCS) <br /> Laboratory Con'trolSamples (LCS) are well-characterized, laboratory generated samples used <br /> to monitor the laboratory's day-to-day performance of routine analytical methods. The <br /> results of the LCS are compared to well-defined laboratory acceptance criteria to determine <br /> whether the laboratory system is "in control". Three types of LCS are routinely analyzed: <br /> Duplicate Control Samples (DCS), Single Control Samples (SCS), and method blanks. Each <br /> of these LCS are described below. <br /> Duplicate Control Samples. A DCS is a well-characterized matrix (blank water, sand, <br /> �. sodium sulfate or celite) which is spiked with certain target parameters and analyzed at <br /> approximately 10% of the sample load in order to establish method-specific control limits. <br /> Single Control Samples. An SCS consists of a control matrix that is spiked with surrogate <br /> g P <br /> compounds appropriate to the method being used. In cases where no surrogate is available, <br /> (e.g. metals or conventional analyses) a single control sample identical to the DCS serves as <br /> the control sample. An SCS is prepared for each sample lot. Accuracy is calculated <br /> identically to the DCS. <br /> Method Blank Results. A method blank is a laboratory-generated sample which assesses the <br /> degree to which laboratory operations and procedures cause false-positive analytical results <br /> for your samples. <br /> L <br />