INTERLABORATORY TEST FOR EXTERNAL QUALITY-CONTROL .2. DETERMINATION OF METALS IN PARTICULATE MATTER

Interlaboratory tests were organized by the Berliner Senatsverwaltung fur Stadtentwicklung und Umweltschutz in autumn 1991 for external qual ity control in the field of particulate matter analysis. Within the fr amework of a quality control system to be built up for contract labora tories according to sectional sign 26 BImSchG interlaboratory tests ar e of great significance. They actually are the only possibility for go vernmental offices to check the proficiency of the respective laborato ries. Nonsatisfactory results of a preliminary interlaboratory test - only three of 14 laboratories were able to fulfil the quality norm set by the organizer - clearly demonstrated the problems associated with analysis of particulate matter and the requirement for quality control . The compulsary interlaboratory test which was run few weeks later ex hibited much better results and in a repeated test all laboratories fu lfilled the quality norm.