Multi-Agency Radiological Laboratory Analytical Protocols Manual: MARLAP

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Multi-Agency Radiological Laboratory Analytical
Protocols Manual MARLAP Presentation to
the Radiation Advisory Committee/Science Advisory
Board April 23, 2002 Presenter John Griggs U.S.
EPA
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Description of MARLAP

• A multi-agency guidance manual for project
  planners and managers and radioanalytical
  laboratories
• Participants include EPA, DOE, NRC, DOD, NIST,
• USGS, FDA, Commonwealth of Kentucky, State of
  California

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Consequences of Current Lack of Guidance

• Existing data frequently not adequate for
  decision making
• Increased likelihood of repeated analyses and
  additional cost
• Potential erosion of public confidence in work
  performed at sites

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Goal of MARLAP

• Ultimate goal of MARLAP is to provide guidance
  and a framework
• to assure that laboratory radioanalytical data
  meet a program's or project's specific needs and
  requirements

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MARLAP Objectives

• Providing a framework and an information resource
  for using a performance-based approach for
  radioanalytical laboratory work
• Promoting a directed planning process involving
  radioanalytical laboratory expertise
• Providing guidance on how to link project
  planning, implementation and assessment from an
  analytical perspective

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MARLAP Objectives (cont'd)

• Making collective knowledge and experience in
  radioanalytical laboratory work widely available
• Providing guidance on obtaining and evaluating
  laboratory services

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MARLAP

• Written for project managers and planners and
  radioanalytical laboratory personnel
• Consistent with relevant guidance such as ISO,
  ANSI, ASTM, and agency documents
• Performance-based approach instead of a
  prescribed approach

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Data Collection Activities Which MARLAP Supports

• Cleanup of Contaminated Sites
• Environmental Monitoring
• Waste Management
• Site Characterization
• Post-Accident Response
• Background Studies

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DQOs and MQOs

• Data Quality Objectives (DQOs)
• Outputs of a directed planning process
• Address sampling and analytical uncertainties
• Measurement Quality Objectives (MQOs)
• Project-specific requirement for select
  analytical parameters (e.g., method uncertainty,
  detection limit)
• Analytical portion of the DQOs

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MQOs

• Example Analytical Parameters
• Method Uncertainty
• Methods Detection Capability
• Methods Quantification Capability
• Example MQO
• A standard uncertainty of 0.10 pCi/g or less is
  required at the action level of 1.0 pCi/g

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Role of MQOs

• Method selection and evaluation
• Criteria for method selection
• Basis for method performance demonstration
• Ongoing data and performance evaluation
• Criteria for QC and PE samples
• Criteria for select sample parameters (e.g.,
  measurement uncertainty)
• Final data evaluation
• Criteria for data validation
• Analytical criteria for data quality assessment
  (DQA)

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Deriving MQOs from DQOs

• Key inputs to the process
• Action level
• Gray region
• Information on matrix and analyte
• Establishing MQOS MARLAP provides
• Mathematical framework
• General rules and recommendations

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Manual Outline

• Part 1
• Ch.1 Introduction
• Ch.2 Project Planning Process
• Ch.3 Key Analytical Planning Issues
• Ch.4 Project Plan Documents
• Ch.5 Obtaining Laboratory Services
• Ch.6 Selection and Application of an Analytical
  Method
• Ch.7 Evaluating Methods and Laboratories
• Ch.8 Radiochemical Data Verification and
  Validation
• Ch.9 Data Quality Assessment

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Manual Outline

• Part 2
• Ch.10 Field and Sampling Issues
• Ch.11 Sample Receipt, Inspection and Tracking
• Ch.12 Laboratory Sample Preparation
• Ch.13 Sample Dissolution
• Ch.14 Separation Techniques
• Ch.15 Nuclear Counting Instrumentation
• Ch.16 Instrument Calibration and Source
  Preparation
• Ch.17 Data Acquisition, Reduction and Reporting
• Ch.18 Laboratory Quality Control
• Ch.19 Measurement Statistics
• Ch.20 Laboratory Waste Management

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Manual Review Schedule

• Internal federal/state February-July
  2000
• agency reviews completed
• Manual was revised based July 2001
• on 2,000 review comments
• Available for peer and
  Currently underway
• public review

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Next Steps

• Revise manual based on public and peer review
  comments
• Develop an Executive Summary MARLAP Roadmap
• Finalize glossary
• Develop implementation tools
• Training courses
• Software programs
• Detailed example scenarios