Quality Assurance Project : trace organic intercomparison exercise results, 1986-1990

"The NOAA National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program determines the current status and any changes over time of the environmental health of the estuarine and coastal waters. Concentrations of organic and inorganic contaminants are determined in mollusks, bottom-dwelling fish and sediments collected along the coast of the U.S. The quality of the analytical data generated by the NS&T Program is overseen by its QA Project component, that is designed to document sampling protocols, analytical procedures, and laboratory performance, and to reduce intralaboratory and interlaboratory variation. NS&T does not specify analytical methodology. Laboratories can use any analytical procedure as long as the results of the intercomparison exercises are within certain specified limits. All NS&T laboratories are required to participate in yearly intercomparison exercises. The results of the intercomparison exercises are described and discussed."