From January to March 2008 the Marine Institute, Ireland, will conduct a proficiency test amongst laboratories, for Phytoplankton Assemblage. This will be broken down into two main areas and each participant will be asked to return results for each.

The two areas are:

Identification – in the form of a “Taxonomic Quiz”, whereby analysts will identify phytoplankton species via a mixture of photo-micrographs and drawings and name morphological features.

Enumeration – each analyst will receive a set of two samples which are to be set-up and analysed according to the Utermöhl method.

Programme Schedule

Registration Package

The fee for the proficiency test is £305.

This covers: sample preparation, verification, packing and shipping, receiving and verifying data results, calculation when needed, overall data processing, statistical calculations, preparation of final report, a Statement of Performance.

On registration, participants will receive:

• Samples couriered to individual analysts in each laboratory.
• Relevant protocols and instructions
• Electronic summary report of laboratories performance in the inter-calibration exercise
• Confidential statement of performance
• Training CD-ROM (where available)
• Invitation to a training/wash-up workshop where participants are presented with the draft report, and have the opportunity to share experiences, discuss general results, and make suggestions for future exercises.

Registration and Payment

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

This is to keep administration to a minimum and costs to participants as low as possible. A booking receipt is generated by the on-line ordering system automatically once you have placed your order.

Various payment options are available (see below).

BEQUALM COMMUNITY COMPONENT - PAYMENT OPTIONS and VAT LIABILITY

The following payment options are available:

Credit card payments are acceptable for payments in £GB

BACS payments and bank credit transfers are acceptable. Please ensure that your payment includes all bank charges incurred for transferring fees. Cefas Technology Ltd will not be liable for these charges and will aim to recover costs incurred from participants.

The liability for Value Added Tax (VAT) on the services provided is as follows:

UK & The Isle of Man: participants are liable to UK VAT

EU (not UK) participants who are not registered for VAT are liable for UK VAT. Participants who are registered for VAT and who receive the supply for business purposes are not liable for UK VAT and should account for any tax locally. You will be asked to supply your VAT number during the on-line ordering process.

CANCELLATION No refunds are available on cancellation.

CONFIRMATION. Your order will be confirmed via the on-line ordering system.

BEQUALM COMMUNITY COMPONENT - Terms and Conditions

Laboratories participating in the scheme do so on the basis of accepting the Special Terms and Conditions for the Products and Services provided by CTL, acting through Cefas under the Community Component of the BEQUALM QA/QC programme, and should be read in conjunction with the CTL Standard Website Terms and Conditions of Sale.

In order to register for the BEQUALM Community component each Participating Laboratory ("Buyer") will be asked to confirm their agreement to these terms and conditions as provided by CTL ("The Seller")