Environmental Lead Proficiency Analytical Testing (ELPAT) Program

The Environmental Lead Proficiency Analytical Testing (ELPAT) Program is part of the American Industrial Hygiene Association's Environmental Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELLAP), one of only two national lead laboratory accreditation programs currently recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The ELPAT is designed to help your laboratory assess and/or improve its analytical performance by providing your laboratory with test samples on a quarterly basis and evaluating the results.

• Submit Test Results
• ELPAT Reports
• Program Fees
• Documents, Forms, and Policies
• PT Program Schedule 

Who should participate in the program?                            

Participation in the ELPAT Program is open to all laboratories but it is mandatory for laboratories seeking accreditation by one of the recognized accrediting organizations under EPA's National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP). NOTE: NLLAP only covers paint, soil and dust wipes.

Must I be enrolled in the ELPAT Program prior to applying for ELLAP?

Participation in the AIHA’s Environmental Lead Proficiency Analytical Testing program is a prerequisite to qualify under the AIHA Environmental Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELLAP). Laboratories in the ELLAP are required to analyze ELPAT samples for the associated PT program for those Fields of Testing (FoTs) for which accreditation is sought.  A laboratory interested in accreditation should participate in at least one round of proficiency testing before applying for accreditation.

Must a laboratory analyze all analytes to participate?              
                        
An AIHA Environmental Lead accredited laboratory is required to analyze and submit results for those matrices that the laboratory is accredited for, so not all laboratories will analyze all samples. Non-accredited laboratories may participate in just the proficiency testing program (any matrices) in an effort to enhance their external quality control or prepare for accreditation.

What types of samples will be used in the program?

Matrices under the ELPAT Program include paint chips, soil, dust wipes, and air samples. After enrollment into the ELPAT program, your laboratory will begin to receive sample kits on a quarterly basis. Four concentration levels will be shipped for each of four matrices: paint chips, soil, dust wipes and air samples.

• Paint chip samples are obtained from lead-based paints that have lead sources representative of the compounds and interferences encountered in field samples.
• Soil samples are representative of environmental contamination resulting from lead-based paint, the industrial use or disposal of lead-based compounds, or airborne lead emissions.
• Dust wipe samples are prepared using field-collected dust samples. Dust wipe sample sets include a blank. Notice: The wipe used in the ELPAT program changed beginning in ELPAT Round 40 as the PACEWipe is no longer available. The new wipe is manufactured by Aramsco Lead Wipe and is available from Lynx Products, Thorofare, NJ, (800) 767-6933.
• Lead-in-Air samples are the same metals samples analyzed in the Industrial Hygiene Proficiency Analytical Testing (IHPAT) Program.  Although there are two other metals on the filters, only lead is to be reported for the ELPAT Lead-in-Air Program.  If you also participate in the IHPAT Program for metals, the metals on filters results must be reported for both programs. There will be no additional charge for the ELPAT (Air) PT samples for those laboratories concurrently enrolled in IHPAT (Metals).

When are the proficiency testing rounds held?

Four ELPAT (paint, soil and dust wipes) rounds are held each year, in February, May, August and November. Lead-in-Air (IHPAT metals) rounds are held in January, April, July and October.  The samples are shipped out at the beginning of the month. Each laboratory has until the end of the month to complete sample analysis.

How are proficiency samples sent?

Proficiency Samples are shipped via the United States Postal Service. Upon receipt of the AIHA PT samples, it is the responsibility of the laboratory to inspect the shipment for any damage and to ensure that the correct samples were received.  If samples are damaged, then the laboratory shall notify the AIHA within 24 hours of sample receipt to ensure timely replacement of samples for the laboratory to meet the deadline for submission of data.  Laboratories requesting special shipping for replacement samples shall assume the cost of express carrier handling.

If the PT samples are not received by the laboratory in accordance with the predefined schedule, then it shall be the responsibility of the laboratory to contact the AIHA within one (1) week of the scheduled shipping date to notify us of failure to receive the PT samples. A laboratory that receives ELPAT samples but does not submit results or contact AIHA before the deadline will receive a ’Fail’ for the round.

The ELPAT Program Schedule*

* Please review the AIHA Proficiency Testing Program Schedule for further details.

Are special analytical methods required?

The ELPAT Program does not specify a particular analytical method to be used. Your laboratory must use the same procedure when analyzing similar types of samples in its normal operations. ELPAT samples should be rotated among all analysts performing similar analyses in your laboratory.

What happens after the results are submitted?

Your laboratory’s ELPAT results will be evaluated using statistical procedures established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Heath (NIOSH). Laboratory reports will then be made available online for the laboratories.

What are the criteria used for rating my performance?

Performance ratings are based on accumulated results over four rounds (one year). The acceptable range is based on consensus values from reference laboratories. The acceptability of reported results is based on upper and lower performance limits.

How is proficiency determined?

A laboratory's performance for each matrix is rated as proficient if either of the following criteria are met: (1) In the last two rounds, all samples are analyzed and the results are 100% acceptable; or (2) Three fourths (75%) or more of the accumulated results over four rounds are acceptable.

What happens if my laboratory is non-proficient?

If your laboratory becomes non-proficient in a specific FoT(s), based on PT sample performance, then the laboratory may choose to purchase the retest PT sample to attempt to regain a proficient status immediately.  The PT sample retest results shall replace the original results submitted by the laboratory and FoT proficiency shall be reevaluated based upon the PT retest results.  PT retest samples may be used only to regain a proficient status (i.e., cannot be used to achieve an initial proficient status on an accelerated basis). An accredited laboratory will be suspended for the matrices associated with the non-proficient category of testing if the lab fails to order a retest or if the lab fails the retest round.  They will remain suspended until proficiency is re-established.

What ELPAT categories of testing are required for accreditation?

Please review the ELLAP Scope/PT Table for specifics. The following provides a general summary of what fields of testing require participation in a specific IHPAT category of testing. A laboratory interested in accreditation should participate in at least one round of proficiency testing before they apply for accreditation.