NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods
NMAM is a collection of methods for sampling and analysis of contaminants in workplace air, surfaces, and in the blood and urine of workers who are occupationally exposed. These methods have been developed or adapted by NIOSH or its partners and have been evaluated according to established experimental protocols and performance criteria. NMAM also includes chapters on quality assurance, sampling, portable instrumentation, etc.
NIOSH recommends that the best method available be used for making each measurement. Methods published by others, such as OSHAExternal, MSHAExternal, EPAExternal, ASTMExternal, ISOExternal or commercial suppliers of sampling and analytical equipment, may have advantages over NIOSH methods for a given sampling situation. (An Industrial Hygienist should determine the sampling protocol, considering analytical accuracy, cost, and optimum sample number.) Every method should undergo an initial evaluation to demonstrate performance. When a method is used in a laboratory that did not perform the initial evaluation, that laboratory should verify that comparable results can be obtained. NIOSH methods may need to be modified, and if modified, should be re-evaluated. Various OSHA regulationsExternal (e.g. benzene) mention performance criteria for evaluating whatever method is used.
NIOSH has published methods developed in cooperating laboratories. These method performance have been evaluated using established experimental protocols. These methods were selected based upon priorities established in a joint NIOSH/AIHA survey of participating laboratories.