Really – A Revised MDL Procedure

Oral Presentation

Prepared by R. Burrows
TestAmerica, 4955 Yarrow St, Arvada, CO, 80002, United States


Contact Information: richard.burrows@testamericainc.com; 303-736-0145

ABSTRACT

In late 2010, EPA solicited proposals for "Support to Develop Measurement Tools, Accreditation Standards, and technical Support". This solicitation included a request to develop " Measurement tool(s) for the calculation of limits of detection, limits of quantitation, calibration curves, and other related values with the most common and diverse techniques". TNI’s bid won the contract and accordingly, a new expert committee for formed. This Environmental Methods and Monitoring Expert Committee (EMMEC) (subsequently morphed into the Chemistry Expert Committee) has spent the last 3 years working on Calibration, Detection and Quantitation.

For Detection, the committee, after discussion with EPA, decided to work on an update to the 40CFR Part 136 Appendix B detection limit procedure. The update was completed in late 2013 and submitted to EPA and the Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board for consideration.

EPA has decided to propose the revised MDL procedure in the next Methods Update Rule and anticipates proposal in late 2014.

This presentation will discuss the modifications to the MDL and their likely effects.