PAT Program: Background and Current Status

Details

• Personal Author:
  Esche, Curtis A. ; Groff, Jensen H.
• Description:
  The background and current status of the Proficiency Analytical Testing (PAT) Program were discussed. The main goal of the PAT Program was regarded as the improvement of laboratory performance. The methods of the PAT Program were described, in which samples of metals, silica (14808607), fibers, and organic solvents, such as benzene (71432), chloroform (67663), and toluene (108883), were mailed to participating laboratories for analysis. The Pat Program was then able to inform these laboratories whether or not their analyses were accurate. As of July, 1996, 1,324 laboratories were enrolled in the PAT Program. Of these laboratories, 1,218 submitted results in round 126. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for the first cadmium (7440439) sample, adjusted to a lower concentration than usual, was 5.5%. The RSD for an asbestos (1332214) fiber sample, a synthetic fiber never tested previously, was 42.3%, the highest RSD determined in this round. The highest numbers of outliers were observed for the four asbestos fiber samples tested. Round 126 was also the first round in which passive monitors were evaluated. The future inclusion of additional organic solvents, such as methyl-ethyl-ketone (78933), methyl-isobutyl-ketone (108101), ethyl-acetate (141786), n-butyl-acetate (123864), and isopropanol (67630), was discussed. Round 127 of the Pat Program, which included chloroform, cadmium, silica, and chrysotile (12001295), was sent to laboratories in October of 1996. The results are forthcoming. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asbestos Cadmium Chemistry Chemistry, Analytic Inorganic Chemicals Laboratories Metals Occupational Health Quality Control Safety Silicon Dioxide Solvents Staff Development

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• Keywords:
  Analytical-chemistry Analytical-methods Asbestos-fibers Cadmium-compounds Laboratory-techniques Metal-compounds NIOSH-Author Occupational-health-programs Organic-solvents Quality-control Silica-dusts

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• ISSN:
  1047-322X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DPSE - Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  11
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00234657
• Citation:
  Appl Occup Environ Hyg 1996 Dec; 11(12):1376-1378
• CAS Registry Number:
  Asbestos (CAS RN 1332-21-4) ; Benzene (CAS RN 71-43-2) ; Butyl acetate (CAS RN 123-86-4) ; Cadmium (CAS RN 7440-43-9) ; Chloroform (CAS RN 67-66-3) ; Chrysotile (CAS RN 12001-29-5) ; Ethyl acetate (CAS RN 141-78-6) ; Isopropanol (CAS RN 67-63-0) ; Methyl ethyl ketone (CAS RN 78-93-3) ; Methyl isobutyl ketone (CAS RN 108-10-1) ; Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7) ; Toluene (CAS RN 108-88-3)
• Editor(s):
  Esche CA; Groff JH
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1997
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:463fe225a4851c85978141eb9cf33c30e05553f8f411a78d09c006021b5eac0b9307fd1e68d118dbce10e5951f0b8989708cb12fe2c0fc9366a4bf200d19f568
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/197728/cdc_197728_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 396.78 KB ]