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accreditation with worldwide recognition for testing and calibration laboratories (Anal. Chem. 1997, 69, 161 A; 1999, 71, 314 A). NACLA is not intended to be another accrediting body, but rather a coordinator of accrediting bodies. Eventually, the organization hopes to expand to include accrediting bodies from Mexico and Canada, as well as the United States (NA would stand for North America instead of National). The goal is to establish procedures and criteria for laboratory accreditation and rules for reciprocal recognition. Ideally, the system would be accepted by all U.S. foreign trading partners. Although NACLA appears to be gaining momentum, several issues need to be hammered out before implementation can become a reality. High on the list is for Canada and Mexico to accept the NACLA procedures. Representatives from the Standards Council of Canada, the Canadian Standards Association, and EMA (an organization that integrates all laboratory accreditation in Mexico) have been observing NACLA’s progress from the sidelines but have not officially joined. Differences between NACLA’s guidelines and bylaws and those of the other organizations need to be reconciled before a merge can take place. As NACLA moves forward, it could also be merged with other organizations that have similar goals, such as the North American Calibration Cooperation (NACC) and the InterAmerican Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC), to form a North American contingent of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Whereas NACLA is focused on North America, ILAC is an international forum dedicated to the development of accreditation practices and procedures around the globe. Having a North American voice in ILAC and the world laboratory accreditation community would facilitate trade between Mexico, Canada, and the United States and provide North American laboratories with an opportunity to reduce the number of accredita-
tions, says Don Wilson of the Standards Council of Canada. On the down side, he says, there are several accreditation bodies already committed to and recognized by the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC). Because of limited resources, accrediting bodies might not be able to join all regions. NACLA’s International Affairs Committee, chaired by Wilson, is working on a draft document, which would allow Canadian, Mexican, and U.S. programs under NACC to merge into the North American region of ILAC. IAAC may also be part of the arrangement. Another issue affecting many accreditation programs worldwide is incorporation of the new international standard, ISO/IEC 17025, which replaced Guide 25 in December 1999. A workshop was held in April after the annual meeting to bring NACLA participants up to speed on the changes involved. According to John Donaldson, vice president of the American National Standards Institute, ILAC is recommending a two-year transition period for laboratories to comply with the new 17025 requirements. Proficiency testing (PT) is one area that is not as clearly spelled out in 17025 as it is in Guide 25, says Martin Harper of the University of Alabama–Birmingham. NACLA organizers are currently working to develop an effective PT program, and they may now even have a bit more flexibility because of the new guidelines. Assessor training is also high on NACLA’s priority list. A training course for evaluators was held in March 1999, and another is planned for early 2001. NACLA is trying to expand the pool of available evaluators; currently there are only 14. NACLA is still soliciting members and volunteers to serve on committees. More information about the organization can be found on its Web site (http://ts.nist.gov/nacla). Britt Erickson
Problematic standards Work carried out by the privately owned
mental monitoring of radioactivity,
sioned LGC to develop new natural-
LGC, formerly the U.K.’s Laboratory of
according to a report published at the
matrix reference materials (NMRMs),
the Government Chemist, has highlight-
end of March by the U.K.’s Department
but unforeseen problems arose during
ed a serious problem in developing stan-
of the Environment (DOE).
the collection, processing, and valida-
dard reference materials for environ-
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Several years ago, the DOE commis-
tion of the materials, and the govern-
news
ment deadline was not met. Four
According to the NPL, a “robust
undertaking such work should not be
NMRMs that were identified as poten-
framework of radioactivity metrology
underestimated. Certified NMRMs, it
tially useful were not finalized in the
is essential to support the ongoing
says, are a “vital part of traceability in
allocated period of time, although the
exploitation of nuclear processes and
analytical science.” Without these stan-
LGC says the U.K.’s National Physical
products.” This makes accurate and
dards, there is no absolute method of
Laboratory (NPL) may ultimately take up
traceable measurements based on stan-
checking the validity of any measure-
the reins in developing these further.
dard references critical to research and
ments recorded in the field.
The need for NMRMs was highlight-
environmental monitoring, which must
The DOE is now considering how to
ed as long ago as 1977 at a meeting of
stand up to serious public scrutiny. In
move forward with the four LGC materi-
the International Committee on Radionu-
recent years, comparisons of environ-
als. Experts say that there is obviously a
clide Metrology. V. T. Bowen of Woods
mental radioactivity measurements have
need for reproducibility and the mutual
Hole Oceanographic Institute pointed
sadly shown discrepancies due to inad-
acceptance of test data without which
out that natural-matrix materials spiked
equate radiochemical techniques and
the usefulness of measurements are
with radionuclides were inadequate for
uncertified methodology.
severely restricted. However, the four
various reasons and the environmental
The LGC carried out a survey of cur-
materials from LGC are not, at this time,
radiochemistry community must urgently
rently used NMRMs in western Europe
at a satisfactory stage of development to
develop homogeneous natural-matrix
and correlated this with the U.K.’s envi-
fulfill this role. David Bradley
samples, each naturally contaminated
ronmental monitoring needs.
by a range of radionuclides at various
Having identified four suitable
concentration levels.
matrixes, it was then impossi-
BUSINESS ble to find enough independ-
Growing by columns
or are under current development by the
ent laboratories to take part
likes of the National Institute of Stan-
in the study, so time ran out
dards and Technology, the NPL, and the
on the contract.
Agilent Technologies solidified its position in the separations market with the acquisition of J&W Scientific—the largest manufacturer and supplier of capillary GC columns—on March 29. According to the company, the takeover makes Agilent the largest supplier of GC instruments, consumables, and columns. J&W also manufactures CE and solid-phase extraction products.
Radio-NMRMs have been developed
LGC using materials such as river and
The DOE points out in its
lake sediments, soils, human tissues,
report that the time required
and bone ash.
and the costs involved in
J U N E 1 , 2 0 0 0 / A N A LY T I C A L C H E M I S T R Y
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