The NELAC Institute (TNI) training

The objective of the training is to provide on-going training for assessors. The objectives are to review the 2016 TNI Standard, provide updates on the interpretations of the TNI Standards, present recent Inspector General activity, review accreditation body procedures, and review assessment practices. Course content is based on the 2016 Environmental Laboratory Standard (v2.1) and presents techniques for conducting a process assessment. The course is presented as a webcast in two sessions for a total of over three hours. The target audience is NELAP state assessors, NGAB assessors and other interested parties.

This course provides examples of the assessment process for asbestos testing laboratory technologies, based on The NELAC Institute (TNI) Environmental Laboratory Standard 2009. The principles for assessing specific technical disciplines within the laboratory operations are presented. The course presents the fundamentals of how to assess technical operations for the following technologies: Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), Phase Contract Microscopy (PCM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).

This course provides examples of the assessment process for microbiology, based on The NELAC Institute (TNI) Environmental Laboratory (2009 and 2016) standard. The principles for assessing specific technical disciplines within the laboratory operations are presented. The rationale for assessing is based on proven quality principals that allow the determination of adherence to the defined system for the technical operations. The system standards used during this course are the 2009 and 2016 TNI Environmental Laboratory (EL) standard. Personnel with a basic science background in this technical area assess operations by conducting an assessment of a laboratory system and technical operations to assure conformance to the stated quality system and where applicable the mandated methods.

This is a recording made during the Plenary Session at NEMC on August 4, 2021 at the Environmental Measurement Symposium in Bellevue, Washington. A question which comes up repeatedly in leadership: “What role does communication play in becoming an effective leader?” Leaders communicate their vision and strategy, and inspire higher levels of performance, while providing practical verbal and written direction. How well is their message communicated and received? Is the result improved performance and commitment? What practical situations require a refined level of communication? Does listening and trust contribute to a leader’s communication effectiveness? Since communication is the lifeblood of any healthy relationship, leaders must communicate effectively to breathe life into the laboratory organization. 

This is a recording of the Assessor Forum held on August 5, 2021 at the Environmental Measurement Symposium in Bellevue, Washington. TNI`s Assessment Forum is structured to provide an opportunity for laboratories and laboratory assessors to share information on how to improve the laboratory assessment process. The 2021 Forum, Unmasking the 2016 TNI Standard, will focus on findings from laboratory assessors on new language in the 2016 Standard. % RSE and RE – What is it and how do I use it? – Aaren Alger. We will focus on clarifying the details around the new concept %RE and %RSE, as described in 2016 TNI V1M4: Section 1.7.1.1.k which caused some significant misunderstanding and confusion during implementation. Calibration – Creation, Verification, Large Analyte Lists and Dropping Points – Jeanne Mensingh. An in-depth look at proper calibration, verification, and a detailed look at handling complex analyte lists relative to dropping points.

In 2006, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) in the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) issued a report dedicated to improving drinking water laboratory integrity (Report No. 2006-P-00036). While focused on laboratory data integrity, the authors recognized that field activities (including field measurements and sample collection) were subject to vulnerabilities and lapses in data integrity. The NELAC Institute (TNI), in its standard “General Requirements for Field Sampling and Measurement Organizations (FSMO)”, outlined requirements for a robust data integrity program. The integrity of the collected sample is key to providing clients with test results of known and verifiable quality. If the original sample does not represent the source, the test results are useless. The concept of data integrity has been a long-neglected subject in field operations but is an integral component that serves to ensure the collection of proper and representative samples. 

The course emphasizes the importance of collecting samples that represent the source matrix and maintaining the integrity of the sample until delivery to the laboratory. Also implicit in these objectives are understanding the objectives/reasons for collecting the samples, and ensuring that the selected site (or sites) accurately represent the goals of the sampling project. The goal is to provide practical guidance and performance measures for field operations to consider when collecting samples. This training series consists of the three sessions listed below. You may purchase webcasts of Sessions 1+2, Sessions 1+3, or all three sessions. Session 1: General Concepts. Session 2: Water Sampling Sources. Session 3: Sediments

The course emphasizes the importance of collecting samples that represent the source matrix and maintaining the integrity of the sample until delivery to the laboratory. Also implicit in these objectives are understanding the objectives/reasons for collecting the samples, and ensuring that the selected site (or sites) accurately represent the goals of the sampling project. The goal is to provide practical guidance and performance measures for field operations to consider when collecting samples. This training series consists of the three sessions listed below. You may purchase webcasts of Sessions 1+2, Sessions 1+3, or all three sessions. Session 1: General Concepts. Session 2: Water Sampling Sources. Session 3: Sediments

Part 1: On February 21, EPA proposed changes to its test procedures required to be used by industries and municipalities when analyzing the chemical, physical, and biological properties of wastewater and other environmental samples for reporting under the EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program. This course will review the proposed changes in detail, including: Revisions to four current EPA methods, 50 revised methods (97 techniques) published by Standard Methods, Five new and 8 revised methods (18 techniques) published by ASTM International, Two new methods approved by EPA under the alternate test procedures (ATP) program, and Other minor technical corrections.

In 1969, environmental testing in the US was relegated to academic research, some limited wastewater testing for operational parameters such as BOD, and some ambient water quality monitoring by public health agencies. That all began to change in 1970 with the formation of the USEPA. The next 10 years would see the development of significant laws and EPA regulations that fundamentally changed environmental monitoring and created an environmental testing industry. This presentation will discuss each of these regulations, what kind of testing they require and how each EPA program office approaches the use of test methods within the regulation.