Alpha Analytical is a laboratory services company celebrating its 25th anniversary. It provides routine analytical services for VOAs, SVOCs, metals, and wet chemistry from its Westborough and Mansfield facilities. The company has over 50 servers supporting its LIMS system, instrument operations, and client interfaces. Developing electronic data deliverables requires advance planning including a detailed EDD specification, example data files, and allowing time for testing and revisions. Effective communication between the client and laboratory is essential for a successful EDD process.

1. Laboratory EDD Services
Mid-Atlantic EQuIS Users Group
Meeting Princeton, New Jersey
October 12, 2012

2. Alpha Analytical, Inc. Overview
• Celebrating 25th Anniversary
• Established in Ashland MA in 1985
• Acquisitions (1999-2006): CDM Lab, Matrix
Analytical, Woods Hole Lab, ENSR Air Lab
• Facilities: Westborough Lab Routine Services
and Mansfield Lab Sediment/Tissue/Forensics
• Accreditations: NELAP (w/ NJDEP primary),
plus Federal DOD-ELAP, plus state certs
• Serving: New England, Mid-Atlantic, Nationwide
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3. Laboratory Routine Services
• VOAs - Est. 4,500/month
• SVOCs - Est. 3,000/month
• Pest/PCB/Hydrocarbons - Est. 3,500/month
• Metals - Est. 4,000/month
• Wet Chem - Est. 14,000/month
• Air / TO-15 - Est. 1,000/month
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4. Laboratory Specialty Services
• Air / Vapor Intrusion Analytical Services
• Sediment / Tissue Analytical Services
• Forensic Hydrocarbon Services
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5. Laboratory IT Infrastructure
• Over 50 Servers support Company Operations
• Servers for Web Site hosting, Instrument
operations, Sample Data Processing functions
(EnviroQuant), Quality Assurance Tracking,
On-Line Data Access, Accounting and Invoicing
• LIMS System on one server (SEEDPAK)
• Oracle Data Base for LIMS Data Storage
• Windows User Environment
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6. Client User Interfaces
• Web Site - Overview of Analytical Services,
Webinar Notices, Events Listings, etc.
• Project Set-Up Tools - Web Portal for Bottle
Orders, Courier Requests, Chain of Custody
Forms, Certification Information, etc.
• ADEX - Secure Web-based Data Access for
static file downloads
• Data Merger - Secure Web-based Interactive
Data Tool with Regulatory Criteria
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7. LIMS Project Set-Up
• Client Account (Name, Address, etc.)
• Project Name / Location
• Test Codes / Methods
• Sample Matrices
• Data Deliverables (Report type / EDD type)
• Project Communication Form (scope details)
• Documents (RFP, Quote, QAPP, EDD Spec,
Project-Specific Compound List, , etc.)
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8. Project Sample Log-In
• Courier scans COC Form and sends web-mail to
Lab PM and Log-In Team for pre-log-in
• Samples received and logged into LIMS
• LIMS sends Sample Receipt Confirmation and
signed COC Form and Draft Invoice
• Sample Containers immediately Bar Coded for
Custody Tracking thru LIMS
• Samples Stored / Refrigerated
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9. Sample Preparation
• Samples moved to Prep Lab (containers)
• Samples tracked in LIMS (barcodes/scanner)
• Samples grouped with QC (batches)
• Samples Extracted / Digested / Prepped
• Data entered electronically into LIMS from
balances/instruments (some manually)
• Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) connected to
LIMS (Analyst types into LIMS / not on paper)
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10. Instrument Analysis / Data Review
• Sample Extracts loaded onto Instruments
• Analytical Data acquired from Instruments
• EnviroQuant Data files processed and
transferred to LIMS
• Analysts conduct Data Review in LIMS
• Data 1st / 2nd / 3rd Level Reviewed for Release
as “Approved” status in LIMS
• Data 4th Review by Reporting Group
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11. LIMS Data Reporting
• Data Reports created in LIMS
• Reporting Group finalizes Reports
• Reports emailed from LIMS to Client
• Reports posted from LIMS to ADEx
(Static Downloads)
• Results posted from LIMS to Data Merger
(Interactive Reg Criteria comparisons)
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12. Electronic Data Deliverables
• Laboratory Library of over 100 EDDs
• Standard and Client-Specific EDD formats
• Federal Programs (ERPIMS / SEDD / ADR)
• EPA Region 2 EDD
• NJ-HAZSITE and other state-specific EDDs
(e.g., NY, ME, NH, MA, etc.)
• EQuIS (EZ and 4-file formats) (Est. 200/month)
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13. EQuIS EDD Development
• Client sends EDD Spec / Valid Values to Lab
• Lab Custom-Programs EDD to Client Spec
• Lab Runs Test EDD on live Data Set
• Client loads Test EDD into data base
• Client provides EDD Comments to Lab
• Lab addresses Client EDD Comments
• EDD Development Process should occur prior
to Sample Receipt (est. 2-3-week period)
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14. EQuIS EDD Generation
• Lab Approves Final Data Report (PDF file)
• Lab runs EQuIS EDD a few days after Final
Data Report issued
• EQuIS EDDs manually validated by Lab thru
EDP checker prior to final release to client
• Time delay results from manual validation
process conducted by Lab prior to EDD release
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15. Keys to Success
• Advance Project Planning
• Detailed EDD Spec
• Valid Values Files
• Special Rules / Exceptions
• Example Data Files
• Lab Runs Test EDD / Client loads Test EDD
• Plan for 2-3 week Process
• Communication is Key
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16. Working with Labs
• Client Preferred File Formats
• Client Interpretation of Data Fields
• Lab-specific Instrument set-ups
• Lab-specific LIMS Data Calculations
• Standard vs. Lab-specific Data Outputs
• Client-Specific File Formats (EDD spec,
reference values, etc.) vs. Default Values
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17. EXAMPLE
• Client-specific interpretation of MDL Field in
EQuIS EDD Data Results File
• Sample-Specific Aliquot entered into LIMS
• Soil % Moisture Data entered in LIMS
• Sample-Specific RL / MDL calculated by LIMS
• Pre-set basis for RL / MDL in LIMS
• “Finished” RL / MDL reported from LIMS
• MDL defined: 40 CFR Part 136, Appendix B, Rev 1.11;
NELAC Standard 2009; DOD QSM 4.2
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18. EXAMPLE
• Population of “Quantitation Limit” field
• Lab default: Sample-specific, analyte-
specific, matrix-specific value calculated
by the LIMS
• Some clients do not use this field
• Some clients interpret and/or define this
field differently
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19. In Summary
• Provide a Detailed EDD Spec to the Laboratory
• Clearly Communicate Project / Program Requirements
• Provide a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) stating
project and program Data Quality Objectives (DQOs)
• Allow Time for EDD Development Process
• Consider Database Purpose when Writing EDD Spec:
– Sample Tracking / Relating Data to GIS Features
– Creating Data Tables for Data Evaluation / Reports
– Conducting Data Validation
– All of the Above
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20. Questions
Thank you
Alpha Analytical, Inc.
Eileen Snyder
Mobile: 610-585-3420
Email: esnyder@alphalab.com
www.alphalab.com
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