BEQUALM WHOLE ORGANISM COMPONENT
Functions of Lead and Participating Laboratories

Introduction
Whole organism component work programme
Functions of the Participating Laboratory
Functions of the Lead Laboratory
Registration and Payment for the whole organism component work programme

Introduction

The Biological Effects Quality Assurance in Monitoring Programmes (“BEQUALM”) QA/QC programme is a system for objectively checking results from laboratories for three components of biological effects techniques - biomarkers, whole organism and benthic community analysis. This is achieved by means of an external agency, including comparison of any one laboratory's results with those of other laboratories, establishing trueness and assessing accuracy.

In the BEQUALM QA/QC programme these external agencies are known as the “Lead Laboratories” and in the case of the whole organism component the Lead Laboratory is the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).

The BEQUALM QA/QC programme year initially runs from 1 September 2004 to 31 March 2005 only, and thereafter each programme year runs from 1 April to 31 March. Each laboratory registering for the programme, known as a “Participating Laboratory”, does so for a programme year (“Programme Year”).

Whole organism component work programme

This includes:

  1. The scheduled work for a Programme Year for each water and sediment bioassay comprising:
    1. intercalibration exercises (ring tests) with a reference compound (supplied by the Lead Laboratory) on which participating laboratories must determine the EC50 concentration;
       
    2. intercalibration exercises (ring-tests) with an unknown concentration of reference material (supplied by the Lead Laboratory) on which participating laboratories must report the observed percentage mortality/inhibition;

where the number of intercalibration exercises will be announced annually at least one month before the start of the programme.

  1. The scheduled work for a Programme Year for fish disease measurement comprising:
     
    1. single distribution of reference materials (photographic images) to participating laboratories
       
    2. one intercalibration exercise (ring-test) with a single set of histological slides which will be distributed sequentially to participating laboratories for analysis
       
    3. quarterly small scale intercalibration exercise (ring tests) using electronic images of specific pathologies for analysis by Participating Laboratories
       
  2. Test materials supplied or distributed by the Lead Laboratory together with any paperwork supplied with the test material and test reports as part of an intercalibration exercise and any additional test reports and additional test materials requested by the Participating Laboratory.

Functions of the Participating Laboratory

In registering for the whole organism component work programme each Participating Laboratory agrees to:

  1. return their analysis results to the Lead Laboratory by the date specified in the instructions accompanying the test material.
     
  2. conduct all intercalibration exercises ordered from the Lead Laboratory for the Programme Year.
     
  3. submit any additional material that may be requested for a particular assay at the start of the Programme Year within the deadline specified in the Instructions accompanying the Test Material.
     
  4. report all data to the Lead Laboratory within the deadline and to the format specified in the Instructions accompanying the test material.
     
  5. send forward fish disease ring test material to another Participating Laboratory or returning to the lead laboratory within the deadline specified in the Instructions accompanying the test material.
     
  6. use BEQUALM logo on their publicity literature where appropriate
     
  7. report to the Lead Laboratory problems arising from internal and external AQC exercises

Functions of the Lead Laboratory

Subject to advance payment for all selected assays by the Participating Laboratory the Lead Laboratory agrees to:

  1. establish a yearly timetable for the Whole Organism Component Programme and dates for reports and publish the programme on the BEQUALM website http://www.bequalm.org.uk in the February preceding the start of each Programme Year
     
  2. distribute test materials for each intercalibration exercise by courier to participating Laboratory
     
  3. provide an electronic summary report of participating laboratory performance from each intercalibration exercise usually within 6 weeks of the date specified for the return of the results
     
  4. provide Participating Laboratories with a new laboratory code each year to ensure anonymity.
     
  5. provide a training CD-ROM for each assay enrolled
     
  6. run training workshops where appropriate
     
  7. prepare and distribute by e-mail relevant protocols
     
  8. prepare and distribute by e-mail data template for each bioassay
     
  9. provide a Confidential statement of performance
     
  10. report results of intercalibration exercises with appropriate statistical analyses
     
  11. provide BEQUALM Annual Report
     
  12. receive and review reports from Participating Laboratories on any problems arising from internal and external AQC exercises

Registration and Payment

Cefas Technology Ltd (CTL) is a wholly owned company of Cefas, and will manage registration and payment administration of the whole organism component of the BEQUALM QA/QC programme using the on-line ordering and payment system available on the CTL website.