Quality Objectives

• To ensure a Quality System that is documented, communicated, understood, implemented and incorporates adequate review, audit and internal quality control.
• To ensure personnel are adequately supervised and are proficient to carry out assigned activities.
• To ensure test methods and related work instructions are validated and incorporate adequate quality control.
• To ensure all equipment, supplies and services are functioning properly and/or meet required specifications.
• To ensure facilities are adequate to carry out the testing activity.
• To ensure that test results are supported by a traceable system of measurement and accorded uncertainties appropriate to requirements.
• To ensure sample management that incorporates adequate procedures for the security, receipt, identification, checking, routing, storage and disposal of all samples.
• To ensure data management that incorporates adequate procedures for the security, recording, calculation, validation, authorization, transmittal, storage and disposal of all test data and related records.
• To ensure workload management that incorporates acceptable holding time, turnaround time and verification of resource availability prior to the acceptance of additional testing.

QUALITY PROGRAM

This program, which applies to all sample submissions to the laboratory, has been designed to comply with Canadian federal and provincial regulatory agencies, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the New York State Department of Health data quality objectives.

The elements of Quality Control/Quality Assurance outlined in this report are consistently employed at CADUCEON and are described in detail in our Quality Assurance Manual. This document includes our QA policy and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for analysis methods and staff training protocols. The quality assurance objectives are translated into specific requirements for individual analyses and are written into all SOPs. Prior to beginning work using a given method, employees are instructed to read both the QA objectives and the relevant SOPs. Accompanied with hands-on training under the supervision of a senior analyst, the successful transfer of information is completed. Annual audits on the laboratory system are performed to confirm compliance with SOP specifications.

IN-HOUSE ELEMENTS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL (QA/QC)

CADUCEON endeavours to provide clients with analytical data of the highest quality. We ensure quality by maintaining several layers of data approval whereby, at any point during the processing of samples, CADUCEON personnel have the authority to reject a set of data based upon results falling outside of their respective QA/QC limits.

A summary of the various steps (as a minimum) followed during routine analyses is presented below:

Element	Frequency	Control Limits
Sample Containers	Precleaned to EPA Specifications	non detect
Reagents	Prepared from ACS grade chemicals or better
Travel & Field Blanks	Provided upon request	< MDL
Replicate Analysis	1 in 20 or 1 per batch	± 20%
Matrix Spikes	1 in 20 or 1 per batch	± 3 S.D.
Instrument Calibrations: Inorganic   Organic   Surrogate Standards Internal Standards	Multipoint Daily Verified every 10 samples Multipoint Verified Daily All organic samples All volatile and semi-volatile organic samples	r 2 >0.999 ± 10% of initial RSD ± 20% ± 3 S.D. ± 3 S.D.
Method Blanks	Minimum 1 in 20 or 1 per batch	< MDL
Standard Reference Material	1 per batch or monthly	SRM Limits
Control Charts	Maintain Daily	± 3 S.D.
Method Audits	Yearly	Adhere to method specific limits (SOPs)

CERTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION

CADUCEON has been a member of the Canadian Association for Environmental Analytical Laboratories (CAEAL) since 1988. Following independent laboratory assessment, the laboratory received full accreditation status from CAEAL for specific parameters. CADUCEON has been found to comply with the requirements of ISO 17025. Please find the list of all the parameters under the Ontario Safe Drinking Water Act (OSDWA) for which we are currently accredited CAEAL and can be found at the following locations:
Ottawa
Kingston
Windsor
Peterborough
Moncton

INTER-LABORATORY STUDIES

As part of the accreditation/certification program of CAEAL, the performance of CADUCEON is monitored through the analysis of unknown proficiency samples submitted by an external agency. In addition, CADUCEON regularly takes part in inter-laboratory studies organized by the Canada Centre for Inland Waters (CCIW), the National Water Research Institute: Long Range Transport of Airborne Pollutants (LRTAP) and CAEAL.

REFERENCE METHODS

The analytical methods employed at CADUCEON are based on the industry recognized and approved reference publications listed below:

• APHA-AWWA-WPCF - "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,"
• Ontario Ministry of the Environment, "Protocol of Accepted Drinking Water Testing Methods", June 16, 2003.
• Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Approved Analytical Methods, Laboratory Services Branch
• Ontario Ministry of the Environment, "Guidance on Sampling and Analytical Methods for use at Contaminated Sites in Ontario," July 1996
• Ontario Ministry of the Environment, "Protocol for the Sampling and Analysis of Industrial/Municipal Wastewater," July 1993
• ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials
• AOAC "Official Methods of Analysis"
• CCME - "Guidance Manual on Sampling, Analysis and Data Management for Contaminated Sites," December 1993
• Environment Canada
• US EPA 500, 600 and SW846 Series Methodologies
• Other recognized regulatory and industry sources

The management at CADUCEON ensures that highly trained staff are available to handle all requests related to quality, turnaround time, sample handling and shipping or administrative details.

Our goal is to provide the client with prompt turnaround times for all submitted samples, including rush requests. Our confidence in knowing that we can provide clients with high-quality service is based on our experience in handling large workloads and our maintenance of instrumentation to ensure our sample capacity is not exceeded.

Our laboratory ensures staff flexibility through the cross training of our personnel. The Organization Chart (see link below) lists our core employees. The number of employees is adjusted to accommodate seasonal fluctuations in sample volumes.

Click for Organization Chart (Picture - JPEG)

SAMPLE MANAGEMENT

Sample management procedures employed at CADUCEON incorporate adequate procedures for the security, receipt, identification, checking, routing, storage and disposal of all samples.

If for any reason sample integrity is questioned, clients are notified and corrective measures are taken.

FIELD SUPPLIES

CADUCEON provides to its clients, at no additional cost, all appropriate field supplies. Clients may request field supplies via telephone, fax and e-mail. These supplies include:

• Shipping containers (typically coolers of varying size)
• Sample bottles, labels and preservatives
• Travel and field blanks and matrix spikes if required
• Sample collection and shipping instructions
• Chain-of-custody forms
• Ice packs and packing

The data management procedures employed at CADUCEON incorporate adequate procedures for the security, recording, calculation, validation, authorization, transmittal, storage and disposal of all test data and related records.

All data is stored under key with access limited to authorized personnel only. A request by a client for access to their own records will not be unreasonably denied. Requests by a third party must be accompanied by written consent from the client.

TEST REPORTS

Test reports typically contain the following information, as appropriate:

Analytical results are available in electronic format, fax and/or hard copy. Final reports are based our in-house Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) which accommodates the storage of results in a variety of database, spreadsheet and ADOBE formats.

COMPANY EXPERIENCE

Since 1989, CADUCEON has participated in a variety of projects requiring analytical laboratory services. Our clientele includes consulting engineers, private individuals, governments and industries. A brief list summarizing the type and nature of our clients follows:

CONSULTING ENGINEERS

CADUCEON provides analytical services to numerous consulting engineers. Sample types range from groundwater and surface water monitoring of landfill sites, to water and soil samples for site decommissioning projects. All of these clients require timely, high quality results.

DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE

CADUCEON currently holds standing offers for environmental services at CFB Borden and CFB Kingston and CFB Trenton. Historically, we have provided environmental services for Canadian Forces Support Unit - Uplands, CFB Petawawa and CFB North Bay.

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS

CADUCEON provides analytical services to many cities, municipalities, townships and villages throughout Ontario. Sample types include microbiological and chemical analysis of water, sewage, sludge and industrial waste effluent.

ONTARIO MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT

CADUCEON is an analytical services contractor to the Ontario Ministry of Environment and has worked closely with the Ministry since 1986. The laboratory has held several contracts with the government. These contracts include the Hi-Vol Filter 1986-1992, Metals in Sludge 1989-1993, Fluoride Candle Analysis 1989- present and Dustfall Analysis 1989- present. During the summer and fall of 1996 the laboratory perform the TSP analysis on pre-weighed filters for MOE in our present facility with all quality control data being accepted. Caduceon has analyzed intercomparision samples for TSP analysis in the past and has always performed to MOE's satisfaction.

TRANSPORT CANADA

CADUCEON has had an on-going relationship with several airports across Canada for the monitoring of their stormwater effluent (i.e. Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International, Winnipeg International and Thunder Bay International Airports). Sample types include glycols and typical storm and sanitary sewer discharge parameters.

PUBLIC WORKS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES CANADA

CADUCEON has maintained several Regional Individual Standing Offers for the provision of analytical services for provincial and federal government locations throughout Canada. The work carried out at these locations relates to site decommissioning and property transfer assessments.