Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 62-160.300 - Laboratory Certification
(1)
Except as provided in subsections 62-160.300(2) through (8), F.A.C., all
laboratories generating environmental data for submission to the Department or
for use in Department-regulated or Department-sponsored activities shall hold
certification from the Florida Department of Health, Environmental Laboratory
Certification Program (DOH ELCP). Such certification shall be for all
matrix/test method/analyte(s) combinations being measured. The matrix of a
sample is defined to be the condition under which the laboratory originally
receives the sample, and shall be classified according to the Field of
Accreditation Matrix groups defined by subsection
62-160.120(18),
F.A.C.
(a) Certification shall be based on
the matrix of the sample. The matrix of a sample is defined to be the condition
under which the laboratory originally receives the sample, and shall be
classified according to the Field of Accreditation Matrix groups defined by
subsection
62-160.120(18),
F.A.C.
(b) For laboratories
reporting data for drinking water compliance, certification shall be for all
matrix/text method/analyte(s) combinations being reported.
(c) For the non-potable water matrix,
laboratories shall apply for and receive DOH ELCP certification in at least one
method for each analytical technology/analyte combination being measured. The
Department will accept any of the combinations certified by the DOH ELCP,
according to Rule
64E-1.102,
F.A.C., dated 1-24-05.
1. When a Department
contract, order, permit or Title 62 rules requires a specific method to be
reported, laboratories shall report only that method. Laboratories may report
additional analytes not published in the reported method, if the applicable
requirements in Rule
62-160.330,
F.A.C. are met, and the laboratory is certified according to paragraph
62-160.300(1)(c), F.A.C.
2. Except
as noted in subparagraph 62-160.300(1)(c) 1., F.A.C., above, laboratories may
report results by any method that is equivalent in technology to the method for
which they hold certification, provided they are certified according to
paragraph 62-160.300(1)(c), F.A.C., for the analyte that is reported. When
laboratories report a method for which they do not hold certification, the
laboratory shall document that all requirements of the reported method are
met.
3. If a laboratory is required
to provide data for an analyte for which, according to subsection
62-160.320(1),
F.A.C., no method is published for the non-potable water matrix, or the
published method for the non-potable water matrix does not meet required data
quality objectives established by the Department for a project, but a method is
published for the drinking water matrix, and the Department has recognized that
the published drinking water method meets the data quality objectives for the
Department project for which the method will be used according to subsection
62-160.320(1),
F.A.C., the laboratory is not required to obtain certification for the
analytical technology/analyte combination in the non-potable water matrix.
However, the laboratory must be certified in the drinking water matrix for the
reported test method/analyte combination.
(d) For all other matrices, laboratories
shall apply for and receive certification for all matrix/test method/analyte
combinations that are reported to the Department.
(2) To the extent possible, a laboratory must
be certified as specified in subsection 62-160.300(1), F.A.C., before reporting
results for a given matrix/analytical technology or test method/analyte
combination. However, if a laboratory makes a written request to the Department
to use a method that is not certified, the Department will allow a laboratory
to begin using a method before the certification process is complete if the
following requirements are met.
(a) The
laboratory must have met all the requirements for certification except for the
on-site visit by DOH ELCP inspectors. The laboratory must be prepared to
provide to the Department copies of the relevant application, applicable
performance test sample results and the initial demonstration of
capability.
(b) The precision,
accuracy and method detection limits generated by the laboratory must meet or
exceed the project specific data quality objectives.
(c) The laboratory shall notify the
Department of the status of its certification application within 5 business
days of receiving notification by DOH ELCP of the certification granted for the
specific matrix/analytical technology or test method/analyte combination
requested.
(3)
Laboratory certification by the DOH ELCP is not required for the following test
procedures identified in subsections
62-550.550(1)
and (2), F.A.C., when conducted by an
operator licensed under Chapter 62-602, F.A.C., or by persons under the direct
supervision of a licensed operator, for the purposes of drinking water
compliance:
(a) Alkalinity;
(b) Bromide;
(c) Calcium;
(d) Chlorite (only at entrances to
distribution systems);
(e) Specific
conductance;
(f) Disinfectant
residual (includes residual chlorine);
(g) Orthophosphate;
(h) pH;
(i) Silica;
(j) Specific ultraviolet
absorbance;
(k)
Temperature;
(l) Total organic
carbon;
(m) Turbidity, or
(n) Any analytes in addition to those listed
in paragraphs 62-160.300(3)(a) through 62-160.300(3)(m), F.A.C., above that are
exempted from laboratory certification according to subsections
62-550.550(1)
and
62-550.550(2),
F.A.C., for the specific compliance applications described therein.
(o) The analytes exempted in paragraphs
62-160.300(3)(a) through 62-160.300(3)(n), F.A.C., above shall be analyzed
according to all applicable requirements for analyses according to subsections
62-550.550(1)
and
62-550.550(2),
F.A.C., for the specific compliance applications described therein.
(p) In cases where the Department has a
specific field testing method standard operating procedure (e.g., FT 1100 for
pH, in DEP-SOP-001/01, which is incorporated by reference in subparagraph
62-160.800(1)(a)
19., F.A.C.), the laboratory or authorized person, as described in Rule
62-550.550,
F.A.C., shall follow the Department's procedures. For all other analytes, a
laboratory or authorized person, as described in Rule
62-550.550,
F.A.C., shall only use test methods that are acceptable for drinking water
compliance, as specified in Rule
62-550.550,
F.A.C. and shall follow all requirements for calibration verification according
to DEP SOP FT 1000 in DEP-SOP-001/01, which is incorporated by reference in
subparagraph
62-160.800(1)(a)
18., F.A.C.
(4)
Certification by the DOH ELCP is not required when conducting the test
procedures for the analytes listed in paragraphs 62-160.300(4)(a) through (h),
F.A.C., because the Department's standard operating procedures (SOPs) are more
stringent than the corresponding laboratory test methods certified by DOH ELCP.
When conducting these test procedures, laboratories shall follow the applicable
SOPs in DEP-SOP-001/01 (January 2017), which are incorporated by reference in
paragraph
62-160.800(1)(a),
F.A.C.
(a) pH;
(b) Dissolved oxygen;
(c) Specific conductance;
(d) Temperature;
(e) Total residual chlorine (including free
available chlorine);
(f)
Salinity;
(g) Turbidity;
and,
(h) Any other test with a
specified holding time of fifteen minutes or less when performed as a field
procedure.
(5)
Certification is not required for the following tests or analyses:
(a) Any analyses related solely to internal
process control, unless the test data are reported to the Department to meet
compliance monitoring requirements for a Department-issued permit;
(b) Laboratory tests conducted for research
projects, as described in Rule
62-160.600,
F.A.C., or
(c) Methods used by
statutorily created volunteer monitoring organizations, when the Department has
reviewed and concluded that the organization's Standard Operating Procedures
provide sufficient quality assurance requirements for Department
purposes.
(6)
Certification by the DOH ELCP is not required for methods and procedures
required to perform the Specific Oxygen Uptake Rate (SOUR) test, when performed
by an operator certified in accordance with Chapter 62-602, F.A.C., or persons
under the direction of a certified operator, as authorized by Chapter 62-640,
F.A.C.
(7) Certification is not
required for any test in which the reported result is a calculation from the
results of other tests for which the laboratory holds certification by the DOH
ELCP.
(8) Certification is not
required for those matrix/method/analyte combinations (such as taxonomic
identification) that are not included in the DOH ELCP scope of
accreditation.
(9) If certification
is not required (see subsections 62-160.300(3) through (8), F.A.C.), laboratory
organizations shall follow the relevant Department-approved methods as provided
in Rule
62-160.320,
F.A.C., and shall meet all other requirements for laboratories as provided in
this chapter.
Notes
Rulemaking Authority 403.061, 403.0623, 403.0625, 403.863 FS. Law Implemented 373.026, 373.309, 373.409, 373.413, 373.414, 373.416, 373.4592, 376.303, 376.305, 376.3071, 403.0623, 403.0625, 403.087, 403.088, 403.0881, 403.504, 403.704, 403.707, 403.722, 403.803, 403.853 FS.
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