Performance of asbestos fiber counting laboratories in the NIOSH Proficiency Analytical Testing (PAT) program.
Authors
Schlecht-PC; Shulman-SA
Source
Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1986 May; 47(5):259-269
Abstract
Asbestos (1332214) fiber counting data reported in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Proficiency Analytical Testing (PAT) Program was used to assess how well participating laboratories were performing and to determine if overall analytical performance had improved during a 10 year period from 1972 through 1981. All PAT intralaboratory and interlaboratory precision estimates from 1978 to 1981 were within the precision ranges reported for the current NIOSH method for phase contrast microscope fiber counting. When fitted curves were related to a model, results showed that recent PAT intralaboratory precision improved as fiber densities increased, and that intralaboratory precision of PAT laboratories had not changed much over the 10 year period. Since 1974 interlaboratory precision had improved by about one third. Several factors suggested that the PAT Program experienced poorer performance of participating laboratories from 1974 to 1978, a period of rapid growth of the program. Analysis of variance showed that laboratories which had been in the PAT Program longer had better interlaboratory precision. The authors raise the concern that interlaboratory precision may deteriorate as large numbers of new laboratories enroll in the PAT Program in response to the increased emphasis on asbestos removal in public buildings.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; Asbestos-fibers; Analytical-methods; Laboratory-testing; Quality-standards; Monitoring-systems; Environmental-pollution; Industrial-hygiene
Document Type
Journal Article
Source Name
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
