Industrial Hygiene Proficiency Analytical Testing (IHPAT) Program
The Industrial Hygiene Proficiency Analytical Testing (IHPAT) Program is designed to assist a laboratory improve its analytical performance by providing samples on a quarterly basis, evaluating the results, and providing a report on how well the laboratory performed. In the same way, the IHPAT Program also tests the analytical competence of participating occupational health laboratories.
Who should participate in the IHPAT Program?
If a laboratory analyzes samples taken from the workplace environment, then participation in the IHPAT Program can provide information to clients on laboratory performance. In addition, a laboratory must be a part of the IHPAT Program to participate in the AIHA's Industrial Hygiene Laboratory Accreditation Program.
Must I be enrolled in the IHPAT program prior to applying for IHLAP?
In most cases, participation in the AIHA’s Industrial Hygiene Proficiency Analytical Testing program is a prerequisite to qualify under the AIHA Industrial Hygiene Laboratory Accreditation Program (IHLAP). Laboratories in the IHLAP are required to analyze IHPAT samples or demonstrate competence when there is no associated PT program for a Field of Testing (FoTs) for which accreditation is sought. (Please review the IHLAP/Scope PT Table for details. A laboratory interested in accreditation should participate in at least one round of proficiency testing before applying for accreditation.
What types of samples will be used in the program?
The analytes covered under the IHPAT Program include: metals, silica, asbestos, solvents, and diffusive sampler badges. Based on what analyses are performed by the laboratory, sample kits contain up to five silica filters, five asbestos filters, five metals filters, and ten charcoal tubes (four samples, a blank and five tubes for determination of desorption efficiency). The metals filters contain three metals (lead, cadmium, zinc, or chromium) which are rotated on the samples that are distributed each round. The charcoal tubes contain one, two or three organic solvents that are also rotated each round and include benzene, ethyl acetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, n-butyl acetate, methanol, methyl ethyl ketone, 2-propanol, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, o-xylene, toluene, trichlorethylene, or tetrachlorethylene. The diffusive samplers contain three analytes (benzene, toluene and o-xylene).
Who should participate in the IHPAT diffusive sampler program?
AIHA's IHPAT diffusive sampler program is open to all laboratories. A laboratory seeking accreditation for the analysis of diffusive samplers using gas chromatography must participate. Laboratories that elect to enroll in the diffusive sampler program do so through the IHPAT program.
What types of samples are used in the IHPAT diffusive sampler program?
The AIHA currently supplies diffusive sampler badges from these three manufacturers: 3M, SKC and Assay Technology. Laboratories that participate in the diffusive sampler program must choose the manufacturer type(s) that they want to use. Toulene (TOL), Benzene (BNZ), and o-Xylene (OXY) are the analytes currently being used. Sample kits shipped to laboratories consist of two monitors. A report form is provided for each monitor set and contains information on the manufacturer-supplied uptake rates. OSHA sampling rates for toluene and o-xylene are also provided for SKC samplers.
Concentrations will be reported in ppm using manufacturers’ information on diffusion and concentration factors.
When are the IHPAT diffusive sampler rounds held?
The diffusive sampler rounds occur twice a year and coincide with the even rounds of the IHPAT program in January and July.
How does the IHPAT diffusive sampler program work?
With the exception of the diffusive sampler rounds only occurring in January and July, the IHPAT diffusive sampler program is administered under the IHPAT program and is subject to all the IHLAP and IHPAT program procedures.
Are laboratories required to analyze all IHPAT samples?
An AIHA Industrial Hygiene accredited laboratory is required to analyze and submit results for those Fields of Testing (FoTs) 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 in an effort to enhance their external quality control or prepare for accreditation.
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 IHPAT samples but does not submit results or contact AIHA by the deadline will receive a ’Fail’ for the round.
When is the next round of IHPAT and when is the deadline to sign up?
There are four IHPAT rounds in one calendar year. Once enrolled in the program, a laboratory will receive sample kits in January, April, July and October. Diffusive samplers are sent biannually in January and July.
The Industrial Hygiene PT Program Schedule*
|
Enrollment Deadline |
December 1 |
March 1 |
June 1 |
September 1 |
|
Round Open/Sample Ship |
January 1 |
April 1 |
July 1 |
October 1 |
|
Results Due |
February 1 |
May 1 |
August 1 |
November 1 |
* Please review the AIHA Proficiency Testing Program Schedule for further details.
Are special analytical methods required?
The IHPAT program does not specify which particular analytical methods laboratories should use. A laboratory should use the same procedures when analyzing the IHPAT samples that it would use when analyzing similar types of samples in normal operations. This allows the effectiveness of the analytical methods used by the laboratory to be tested. Except in instances where analytical problems are found, IHPAT samples should be rotated among all analysts performing similar analyses in the laboratory, results from only one analyst should be reported.
What happens after the results are submitted?
After the close of the IHPAT round, the results are statistically evaluated, and a proficiency report is generated for each participating laboratory. Each laboratory will receive an e-mail notification once the results are available on the AIHA website. AIHA assists laboratories in making corrections and modifications prior to the next round of sampling by making retest samples available upon request. Results from the retest round replace the results for the failed round.
How is proficiency determined?
The IHPAT consists of four (4) rounds annually. The laboratory shall receive a pass/fail score for each analyte class (e.g., organics, metals, asbestos, silica), as applicable, for each PT round. The laboratory shall receive a passing score for the round if not more than twenty-five (25) percent of the reported results are outliers. The acceptability of reported results is based on upper and lower performance limits. For example, a laboratory participating in IHPAT (Metals) reports 12 results for each PT round. To pass the metals analyte class in each round, the laboratory shall have acceptable results for 9 of the 12 reported results. A laboratory is rated proficient for the associated FoT/Method if the laboratory has a passing score for the applicable PT analyte class in two (2) of the last three (3) consecutive PT rounds. A laboratory is rated non-proficient for the applicable FoT/Method if the laboratory has failing scores for the associated PT analyte class in two (2) of the last three (3) consecutive PT rounds.
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). A retest samples order form is shipped to each laboratory along with their PT samples and is also available in the Fee Schedule. An accredited laboratory will be suspended for the FoTs/methods 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 IHPAT categories of testing are required for accreditation?
Please review the IHLAP 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.
|
Field of Testing (FoT) |
PT Participation Requirement |
|
ICP/AA |
AIHA IHPAT Metals |
|
GC |
AIHA IHPAT Organics and/or Diffusive Samplers |
|
GC/MS |
AIHA IHPAT Organics or Demonstration of Competency or WASP |
|
UV/VIS(Colorimetric)/IR/ XRD |
AIHA IHPAT Silica |
|
PCM |
AIHA IHPAT Asbestos |
Does AIHA provide QC samples?
AIHA offers stock samples from previous rounds for laboratories wishing to evaluate analytical procedures and quality control systems. Certificates of analysis are provided with the samples to permit evaluation of how well the laboratory performed. Kits consist of four concentration levels for each analyte, which include metals, asbestos, silica, and organic solvents. Blanks are provided with each analyte. A stock sample order form is shipped to each laboratory along with their PT samples and is also available in the Fee Schedule.
Who prepares the proficiency testing samples?
IHPAT Samples are developed and shipped by SRI International on behalf of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). IHPAT Data analysis and distribution of reports are performed by the AIHA.
Please contact the AIHA Laboratory Quality Assurance Program at (703) 849-8888 for more information about the Industrial Hygiene Proficiency Analytical Testing program.