Volatile Organic Components (VOC) - Round 23
Aims and Scope
Laboratories participate in Proficiency Tests (PTs) to demonstrate their competence, as required by, e.g., ISO/IEC 17025 §7.7. Measurement results from different laboratories are anonymously compared with each other to identify any deviations. The results in a PT will give you valuable insights into your laboratory’s performance, ensure and even increase your quality, can be used as a reliable tool for quality and risk management and will meet the requirements of various accreditations and ISO/IEC 17025:2017. VSL organises PTs in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17043:2023 and is accredited by RvA (registration R006).
VSL will provide:
- A set of sample tubes as travelling standards;
- Instructions and a PT-protocol.
Criteria of Participation
This PT scheme is open for all laboratories performing the analysis of volatile organic components in air (or nitrogen). It is presumed that laboratories are familiar with the safety issues and have experience in handling sorbent tubes containing VOCs.
Quantities to be Measured
The mass of a set of 8–10 VOCs selected from 20 possible compounds (benzene, toluene, o-xylene and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene are always included in the selected set).
Travelling Standard
Sampled tubes prepared by VSL, each containing 8–10 VOCs.
Tube options (participants may choose one or both):
• Active charcoal tubes (provided by VSL)
Nominal mass per compound: 1–50 µg
• Thermal desorption tubes (to be provided by the participants)
Nominal mass per compound: 10–500 ng
Method and Equipment
Participants are advised to use their routine methods for sampling and analysis and the equipment that is used in routine measurement for this purpose. Laboratories should calibrate their equipment in accordance with their usual practices.
Instructions and Protocol
VSL will provide the protocol before shipping the cylinders. Each participant will have at least 3 weeks to perform the measurements and report the result. VSL will provide a report form for collecting the results.
Schedule
The schedule of this PT can be found on our website. VSL aims to make the PT items available within approximately 4 months or less after registration closes. The aim is to release the PT report no later than six weeks after the deadline for submitting the results by the participants.
Assigned Value
The result from VSL will be used as assigned value. The expected uncertainty is in accordance with the specification but may be increased depending on the stability assessment.
Performance Evaluation
The results will be evaluated using the normalized error (En-score).
Interpretation of the En-score is as follows:
|En| <= 1 Satisfactory performance
|En| > 1 Unsatisfactory performance
The final report presents results anonymously. Each laboratory can identify its own performance via a unique code. VSL guarantees full confidentiality and does not share individual data with third parties.
Deliverables
Upon completion of the PT, each participant will receive:
- An anonymised evaluation of your performance;
- A comprehensive PT-report.
This report may serve as supporting evidence for audits and internal reviews.
Confidentiality Statement
The identity of the participant is confidential, and so is the relationship between any participant, its submitted results and the performance evaluation. Results in the PT scheme will be collated, processed, reported and released in anonymised form. The PT reports are provided to the participants only. PT reports and calibration certificates are subject to copyright. You will receive the reference material certificates after the PT evaluation has been carried out.
Payment Terms
Payment in advance, at least one month before the start.
Failure to pay on time may result in exclusion from participation, without any right to refund or compensation.
Participants
The PT is open to 5-15 participants. If fewer than 5 laboratories register, VSL may cancel or postpone the PT. In such cases, all registered participants will be notified and offered alternative options.