What are laboratory quality control samples?
These are samples that are taken to ascertain whether anything that happened in the field might have affected the analytical results and that nothing about the sample itself would affect the analytical results. They consist of: • Method Blank: (MB) an analyte-free matrix (water, soil, etc.) subjected to the entire analytical process to demonstrate that the analytical system itself does not introduce contamination. The method blank results should be below the Method Reporting Limit (MRL) or, if required for DoD projects, < ½ MRL for the analytes being tested. A method blank is included with the analysis of every sample preparation batch, every 20 samples, or as stated in the method, whichever is more frequent. • Matrix Spike/Matrix Spike Duplicate : a known amount of a compound similar chemically to the target analyte is added to samples to ascertain any matrix effects on recoveries and to determine the accuracy and precision of the method in this matrix. • Laboratory Control Sample (LC
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- What are laboratory quality control samples?
