Asbestos Analysts Registry FAQs
Why use the registry?
Analysts involved in the performance of asbestos fiber counts on air samples on the job site should be a part of this program. AIHA has the largest statistically valid airborne asbestos fiber-counting quality control program in the world.
Who uses the registry?
People who require qualified counters to analyze their asbestos-containing samples. To view the list online, click here (438 K) or call AIHA for a copy of the AIHA Board Approved Analysts Registry Listing.
What are the personnel training requirements?
Each analyst must successfully complete one of the recognized courses in asbestos analysis or its equivalent (e.g., NIOSH 582) and must be able to provide documentation of this completion.
If an organization uses an in-house training program, this training must be verified by the use of a written protocol with performance criteria. Training should include a minimum of 30 hours of contact and analytical time by a qualified instructor
What are the equipment requirements?
Equipment must be suitable for the analyses performed. A fiber-counting microscope that meets the criteria in the OSHA standard for asbestos or the latest version of NIOSH Methos 7400 must be available.
What are the required procedures?
Organizational procedures must include sample custody, tracking, and reporting. Analytical procedures must be written and include the following seven items: setup and alignment, field calibration, sample preparation, analytical procedure, counting, calculations, and precise adherence to the latest version of NIOSH Method 7400 or Appendix A of the OSHA standard for asbestos.
What about quality control?
A specific written description of the quality control program must be provided. This program must include the following eight items: routine or scheduled maintenance, microscope resolution and calibration checks each time the microscope is set up, analysis of blanks, duplicate counting practices (or duplicate analysis) and use of control charts, proficiency checks for analysts, specific quality control procedures for on-site counting, items 3-5 to conform to Appendix A of the OSHA Standard for asbestos, participation in Interlaboratory Fiber Exchange Program (Round Robin).
What is the difference between the IHPAT Asbestos PCM and the AAT Asbestos PCM proficiency testing programs?
The Industrial Hygiene Proficiency Analytical Testing (IHPAT) - Asbestos PCM is a proficiency testing program for laboratory participation. The laboratory submits data, which determines the proficiency testing performance of the laboratory. The AAT - Asbestos PCM is a proficiency testing program for the individual field analyst who submits AAT data, which determines the proficiency testing performance of the individual analyst.
The samples provided by the IHPAT and AAT programs are essentially the same type of sample, however, the IHPAT samples are analyzed by an individual analyst representing the laboratory, and the AAT samples are apportioned among the individual analysts for individual analysis of the sample.
How long does it take to become an approved AAR organization and a "Board Approved" analyst?
The approval process for the organization can take as long as three months after the receipt of the organization application at AIHA. This depends upon the completeness of the required application information submitted by the organization to AIHA.
The Board approval process for the analyst can take up to six months. The analyst must complete two consecutive rounds of the AAT with no more than two outliers; the analyst organization must be an approved AAR organization; and the analyst application documents must be approved, which depends upon the completeness of the required analyst application information submitted to AIHA.
How do I select an approved NIOSH 582 equivalent course?
AIHA maintains a list of approved NIOSH 582 equivalency course providers to assist the AAR application reviewers in the AAR organization and analyst application review process. This is a proprietary list of providers as they only provide in-house training to their employees, and/or the course may no longer exist.
However, you can use the AAR approved organization list to contact an organization in your area to inquire about the availability of a NIOSH 582 equivalency course.
Can the NIOSH 582 equivalent course be taught in-house?
This course may be taught in-house so long as equivalency can be demonstrated. To document equivalency, a course syllabus with a minimum of 30 classroom hours must be provided to AIHA for approval.
Additionally, the current revision of the NIOSH 7400 method states the course instructor should have taken the NIOSH 582 course at NIOSH within the last three years of presenting an equivalent course. The AIHA recognizes that NIOSH no longer offers this course and is in the process of evaluating alternatives. In the interim, the AIHA recommends that the instructor should have taken a NIOSH 582 equivalent course from an approved vendor within the past three years.
What are the required elements of a quality assurance manual?
A quality assurance manual must outline the elements of a quality assurance program, which are outlined in the AIHA Laboratory Quality Assurance Manual. This document is available through the AIHA bookstore and is a reference document providing general guidance for the establishment of a comprehensive quality assurance program.
It is also an acceptable practice for an organization to acquire the services of a quality consultant to assist with the development of a QA program manual. Refer to the AIHA website for a listing of qualified consultants.
Are new employees who are currently AAR board approved required to have a probationary period?
As part of the new employee’s training, the organization should evaluate a new employee’s skills and training to determine the employee’s level of competence and compliance with the organization’s QA program requirements. This is normally accomplished during a probationary period.
The length of probation is strictly determined by the analyst’s ability to conform to method and QA program requirements. Documentation of the new employee probationary period is required to maintain AAR board approval.
What is a round robin?
A round robin consists of an exchange of samples among at least three organizations, culminating in a statistical comparison of results. To meet AAR program and OSHA requirements, each organization must participate in at least two round robins annually.
A guidance document discussing the minimum recommendations for a round robin program may be obtained by contacting AIHA at (703) 849-8888. Additionally, a list of AAR-approved organizations is available on the AIHA website and may provide a source for round robin participants on a regional and national level.
Do I have to utilize the NIOSH 7400 method?
In accordance with AAR program policies, analysts must follow the method detailed in Appendix A, 29 CFR 1910.1001, and the most current revision of the NIOSH 7400 analytical method of fiber analysis. The OSHA ID-160 method is generally equivalent to Appendix A, 29 CFR 1910.1001.
What are reference slides and how are they obtained?
Reference slides are test slides with statistically derived reference values and limits of acceptability. To comply with the requirements of the NIOSH 7400 and OSHA ID-160 methods, at least one reference slide must be analyzed by each analyst prior to fiber counting any real-world or client samples.
Industrial Hygiene Proficiency Analytical Testing Program (IHPAT) and/or Asbestos Analytical Testing (AAT) Program proficiency samples and statistically validated client or working samples representing all four fiber-loading ranges should be included in a well-developed reference library. IHPAT and AAT proficiency test samples have already been statistically evaluated by AIHA. Results typically include a reference value and limits of acceptability.
To statistically validate a client sample test slide, a minimum of 10 readings by an experienced analyst(s) must be obtained. The mean value of these readings will then be considered the reference value for the test slide, and the standard deviation will be considered the limits of acceptability.
To meet the requirements of the AAR program, each analyst must provide reference slide data for at least three fiber-loading ranges and demonstrate that these data are evaluated for acceptability on a real-time basis.
How is an analyst’s coefficient of variation determined?
There are a variety of methods for determining an analyst’s coefficient of variation or intracounter relative standard deviation. This statistic describes the variability of data obtained by a single counter.
The NIOSH 7400 method and the AIHA Laboratory Quality Assurance Manual recommend the use of replicate analyses of reference slides to determine the intracounter variability for each fiber-loading range. The OSHA ID-160 method requires the construction of a CV curve. There have also been a number of articles published advocating the use of the recount analyses to determine an analyst’s coefficient of variation for each fiber-loading range. All of these approaches are considered statistically valid and acceptable for AAR program compliance.
The analyst’s relative standard deviation (or coefficient of variation) must be determined to properly evaluate the 10 percent recount acceptability. Additional assistance in understanding the statistics involved with all of these approaches may be obtained by contacting a consultant.
What are control charts and how are they constructed?
Quality control charts are used to reveal variation in analytical performance from a historical record for the same procedure. Accuracy and precision control charts work together to demonstrate the reliability of the analytical method.
Control charts are tools that can be used to identify assignable causes such as systematic bias, imprecision or random errors. Guidance on the development of a quality control chart can be found in the AIHA Laboratory Quality Assurance Manual and cited references. Development of a quality control chart for each reference slide is recommended by the AAR program to determine the acceptability of daily reference slide analysis for each counter.
What are the "B" counting rules?
The "B" counting rules are alternate counting rules contained in the NIOSH 7400 method. The "B" rules are slightly different from the "A" rules and are to be used for nonasbestos fiber counting such as fiberglass and man-made mineral fibers.
The OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910.1001) require the analyst to only count fibers equal to or longer than 5μm with a length-to-width ratio of 3:1 or greater. This is consistent with the "A" counting rules outlined in the NIOSH 7400 method. The "A" counting rules must be used to maintain compliance with AAR program requirements and must also be used in the PAT program.
How often should I use the HSE/NPL test slide?
The NIOSH 7400 method requires the "periodic" use of the HSE/NPL slide. The frequency of use should be determined by the organization and stated in the organization’s QA manual.
Prior to determining this frequency, the organization should evaluate whether its microscopes are used in a field or laboratory setting and if analysts share the same microscope. As a minimum recommendation, the HSE/NPL test slide should be used every time a microscope is moved from one location to another and each time a new microscopist/microscope pairing occurs. The periodic use of the HSE/NPL test slide must be documented to meet AAR program requirements.
If you have questions that are not addressed here, please contact the AIHA at (703) 849-8888. Your feedback will help to improve the usefulness of this document.