News
They have compared their HPMC experiments with resultsfromanionexchange columns and interpreted them in terms of their theoretical model of HPMC, which assumes that the separation is a single-step process. Plasmid DNA diffuses as slowly as proteins but carries only negative charges, whereas proteins can have negative and positive charges. Therefore, the two biopolymers behave very differently. For example, isocratic elution is possible in DNA but not in protein HPMC. Freitag adds that a higherflowrate usually does not affect protein HPMC but for DNA the separation sometimes deteriorates
Freitag admits that the technique is not quite good enough for separating DNA at present but predicts that more research will improve it. The researchers hope their results will be of use to diverse fields such as biomedical (gene therapy) research and biotechnological (transfection) applications. "These are long-term options, and by expressing our hope that our results could be useful to people faced with the usual difficulties of plasmid DNA analysis and separation, we actually expect them to learn from us and apply the results where they find it feasible." David Bradley
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Delegates attending the fourth annual meet- has raised concerns over the lack of flexiing of the National Environmental Laborability in NELAC's tory Accceditation Conffeence (NELAC)) held June 29-July 2 in San Antonio, TX, ,ver- quality systems standards. Some EPA whelmingly voted in favor of all proposed officials believe the changes to the existing standards. ConsenNELAC chair Ken NELAC standards Jackson sus was reached on many issues; however, several topics still remain as hot as the tem- are too prescriptive and will hinder the peratures that soared outside. agency's implementation of a performance"The standards are not perfect," one state representative told Analytical Chemis- based measurement system (PBMS) try, "but time is running out and we have to NELAC's quality systems committee does conflict and maintains that it has get something on the table." Nineteen been actively involved in the PBMS prostates have already applied for recognition as accrediting authorities. Inspections have cess from the beginning Although no consensus has been reached both sides say begun, and, if everything goes as planned, the first class of accrediting authorities will they are committed to PBMS be approved in early 1999, says director "The NELAC board of directors has Jeanne Mourrain. Even though they will recommended that ELAB [Environmental likely be changed, initial standards must be Laboratory Advisory Board] form a subin place by that time. committee to develop a unified approach towards PBMS," says NELAC chair Ken NELAC, a nationwide effort to reduce Jackson. The PBMS subcommittee, to be the number of accreditations required for environmental laboratories to conduct busi- chaired by Jerry Parr of Catalyst Informaness in more than one state (Anal. Chem. tion Resources, will include a balanced panel of members from EPA the states, 1997,69,588 A 1998, 70,176 A)) ,s inenvironmental laboratories, and instrument tended to provide a consistent means for manufacturers. "Our goal is to present to assessing the quality of data provided by EPA what we think the PBJMS program environmental laboratories throughout the should look like," says Parr. A special United States. sion was held at the 14th Annual Waste Eventually participation by most states Testing and Quality Assurance Symposium will be necessary for NELAC to become a in mid-July to address the NELAC/PBMS viable national program. No state applications have been received since the January issue deadline for the first round, says Mourrain. Proficiency testing (PT) is another area NELAC is actively working on the states that has set off a few alarms. At the same that have not applied to determine what time that NELAC is trying to develop PT their concerns are. standards for evaluating the performance
NELAC standards undergo more changes
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Analytical Chemistry News & Features, September 1, 1998
of environmental testing laboratories, EPA is moving its PT studies that are used to assess drinking water and wastewater testing laboratories to the private sector {Anal. Chem. 1998, 70,265 A). Since the 1970s, EPA has not charged laboratories to participate in the PT program. Now water-testing laboratories must purchase PT samples from the prrvate sector, analyze them, and send the results back to the PT provider. Who is in charge of making sure the laboratories get what they pay for? In June 1997, EPA entered into a formal agreement with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) making NIST the overseer of the PT providers AH drinking water and wastewater PT providers must now be accredited through NIST NELAC's PT standards and the NIST standards must be consistent. Differences between the two sets of standards have already been pointed out, however, regarding such things as the acceptable range of a provider's quality control check. NIST is in the process of revising its handbook in an attempt to make it more compatible with the NELAC PT standards. Both sides are working closely together to resolve the differences. Of more concern, however, is the interim period between the time the last EPA PT samples were shipped out and the time the private providers become accredited by NIST. Based on the current time line, the first class of PT providers won't be accredited until January 1999. The last batch of samples from EPA has already been shipped out. EPA officials say that there is no cause for alarm because drinking water and wastewater laboratories are only required to undergo performance evaluations once or twice a year, depending on their state requirements. However, the on NIST to meet its January deadline Concerns have been raised over NELAC's intent to develop standards for field measurements because of the impact they could have on a large number of organizations that are currently not participating in NELAC. The NELAC board of directors has requested that a strategy be devised to increase input into the standards development process for sampling and field measurements. Along similar lines, questions have been raised about the need to certify mobile laboratories. According to the current standards, any mobile laboratory that remains on the same site for more than 90
continuous days per year must be certified. Temporary laboratories that do not stay fixed for more than 90 days sad are ecnsidered an extension of an accredited fixed laboratory will not require separate accreditation. The accreditation process committee is working to further clarify if and when mobile laboratories require certification. All unresolved issues are expected to be discussed at NELAC's fourth interim meeting in Bethesda, MD, in January. Britt Erickson
Boosting analytical competitiveness in the U.K. The U.K. government is set to allocate £2.3 million (about $3.7 million) for analytical innovation to improve competitiveness in the chemical and process industries where analytical science is crucial to efficiency and commercial viability. The funding, announced in July by Science Minister John Battle, will allow smaller companies to innovate through partnership in areas such as chromatography and spectroscopy. The funding will be fed into the LGC (formerly the Laboratory of the Government Chemist) over a three-year period. According to Battle in a statement issued by the Department of Trade and Industry, "This program has successfully established a new culture for practical innovation through partnership. LGC has created a national center of excellence, which provides an analytical science focus for industry and academia." The funding will allow industry networks, including specialty manufacturers of organic chemicals, adhesives coatings and polymers as well as petrochemical pharmaceutical and chemical producers to share best practices and transfer skills and experience between companies and sectors he says Other industries such as those'involved in electronics clinical studies and health environmental studies and water will also'benefit An Industry Advisory Group, which included one academic representative, was set up to review the progress of the first phase of the Analytical Innovation Program, of which the LGC funding represents the second phase. LGC has garnered praise for the quality of its efforts under the program, which should, hopes Battle, lead to additional commercial funding and technology transfer from academia to the commercial base. Technology transfer is cur-
rently a strong government initiative. "I am delighted by this strong endorsement of the importance of analytical science. This new Analytical Innovation Program aims to foster links between all those who have a stake in maximizing competitiveness through innovative use of analytical technology. I am very pleased that LGC is playing such a key role in this endeavor," Richard Worswick, LGC Chief Executive and Government Chemist, told Analytical Chemistry. LGC was privatized in April 1996 and bought by a consortium formed by the Royal Society of Chemistry, venture capitalist group 3i, and staff at the laboratory. David Bradley
NACLA incorporated as nonprofit organization It's official. The National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA), a voluntary group aimed at eliminating duplicate accreditations and establishing worldwide acceptance of credible data, has been established as a nonprofit organization in the District of Columbia. Unlike NELAC, which is centered around environmental laboratories (see story on pg. 574A), NACLA is targettng all testing and calibration laboratories in the United States (Anal. Chem. 1998, 70,373 A). As NACLA develops, ,i ts expected to broaden its membership to include Mexico and Canada. The program is about to launch into full swing with itsfirstnational meeting coming up in late 1998 or early 1999. Election of a permanent board of directors is expected to highlight the meeting. Further information can be obtained at http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/nacla/ index htm
PEOPLE
Graduate fellowship awards Thirteen analytical chemistry graduate students have been selected by trie Av-o Division of Analytical Chemistry to receive fellowships for either the academic year ($15,000) or for the summer ($5000). The program encourages basic research in analytical chemistry and recognizes future leaders in the field.
Full-year fellowships
Susan L. R. Barker of the University of Michigan (Raoul Kopelman). Barker is conducting research on fluorescence-based optical sensors; her work focuses on anion-selective nanooptodes and nitric-oxide-selective biosensors. Barker's fellowship is sponsored by Merck. Bradley Bath of the University of Utah (Henry White). Bath uses scanning electrochemical microscopy to investigate the mechanisms by which molecules traverse skin tissues. His fellowship is sponsored by Eli Lilly. Kathryn A. Ramirez-Aguilar of the University of Colorado (Kathy Rowlen). Her research focuses on using atomic force microscopy for physical and chemical characterization of nanometer-scale environmental particles. Ramirez-Aguilar's fellowship is sponsored by Perkin-Elmer. Moira Ringo of the University of Michigan (Christine Evans). Ringo's research focuses on the effects of modest pressure on separation processes and on the measurement and fundamental elucidation of binding equilibria. Her fellowship is sponsored by Procter & Gamble. Troy Tanzer of the University of Illinois (PaulBohn).Tanzer's research involves using Raman spectroscopy to probe the nearsurface electronic structure of superconductorsemiconductor interfaces. His fellowship is sponsored by DuPont.
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