QA/QC documentation for GC/LC/MS or ELISA analysis  is defined as the combination of

1.) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and protocol or quality assurance project plan for the study, including name and contact number
of project manager or study leader;
2.) method validation data (DPR, 1995);
3.) continuing QA and QC data (DPR, 1995);
4.) analytical results for blank samples (DPR, 1995).

GC/LC/MS method validation data should include the following matrix spike data: spike level and percent recovery, calculation of mean and standard deviation, upper and lower control limits, and upper and lower warning limits for each analyte.

For ELISA results, method validation results for each type of kit for each water matrix (e.g., stormwater, river, rain), MDL and percent of samples to be split for chemical analysis for QC must be documented.

Continuing QC data should include percent recovery of spikes submitted with each extraction set and analytical results for blind spikes (10% of total samples) routinely submitted as a QA check during the course of the study.

Toxicity tests must be conducted according to the US EPA methods current at the time the study was conducted. Study protocols and laboratory SOPs should be submitted with the data, or be available for review by DPR staff.

Acute toxicity tests: control survival must be equal or greater than 90% (US EPA, 1993b). Water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen should be reported for each biotoxicity sample. Control data for results of each 96-hour acute test should be reported.

Chronic toxicity tests: control data results for each chronic 7-day test should be provided. Control survival tests for fathead minnow and Ceriodaphnia dubia should be equal or greater than 80% (US EPA, 1994). For C. dubia controls, at least 60% of surviving adults should have produced their third brood in 7 + 1 day, and number of young should be 15 or more per surviving adult (US EPA, 1994). The statistical method used to determine significant toxicity should be reported.

REFERENCES:

Department of Pesticide Regulation. 1995. Standard Operating Procedure Number QAQC001.00: Chemistry Laboratory Quality Control. Environmental Hazards Assessment Program, California Environmental Protection Agency. Sacramento, CA http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/emon/pubs/sops/qaqc001.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1991. Methods for Aquatic Toxicity Identification Evaluations: Phase I Toxicity Characterization Procedures. Second Edition. EPA 600/6-91-003. February 1991.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1993a. Methods for Aquatic Toxicity Identification Evaluations: Phase III Toxicity Confirmation Procedures for Samples Exhibiting Acute and Chronic Toxicity. EPA 600/R-92-081. September 1993.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1993b. Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater and Marine Organisms. Fourth Edition. EPA 600/4-90-027F. August 1993. http://www.epa.gov/OST/WET/disk2/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1994. Short-Term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Water to Freshwater Organisms. Third Edition. EPA 600/4-91-002. July 1994. http://www.epa.gov/OST/WET/disk3/