NR 149.47(1)(b)
(b) The laboratory shall quantitate sample results only from initial instrument calibrations, unless otherwise allowed by method, regulation, or covered program or unless any of the following applies:
NR 149.47(1)(b)1.
1. Samples analyzed by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrophotometers and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers having responses at or greater than 90% of the established upper limit of the linear dynamic range of the instruments shall be diluted and reanalyzed.
NR 149.47(1)(b)2.
2. When an analyte does not perform as well as most of the analytes in a multi-analyte initial calibration, analysis may proceed, and results reported for these analytes, provided that the results are appropriately qualified as required in this section.
NR 149.47(1)(c)
(c) When samples cannot be diluted and reanalyzed, the laboratory shall report sample results with appropriate qualifiers.
NR 149.47(1)(d)
(d) The laboratory shall establish procedures for reporting results for samples analyzed by dual column and dual detector systems. These procedures shall establish all the following prior to analysis:
NR 149.47(1)(d)1.
1. A primary column or primary detector from which results shall be reported.
NR 149.47(1)(d)2.
2. The conditions under which a presumptive identification is confirmed and reported from the secondary column or detector.
NR 149.47(1)(e)
(e) When results are greater than the LOQ on dual column or dual detector systems, and the RPD exceeds 40%, then the higher of the two results shall be reported unless the analyst defensibly documents that the higher result is biased due to interference. In this case the laboratory may report the lower result with a qualifier indicating the value of the higher result or report both results.
NR 149.47(1)(f)
(f) Excluding microbiological results, MCL exceedances for any regulated analyte associated with ch.
NR 809 compliance monitoring shall be reported by the laboratory to the affected water supply facility within 48 hours of completing sample results.
NR 149.47 Note
Note:
Laboratories performing bacteriological testing for a covered program are certified or approved under ch.
ATCP 77 by the department of agriculture, trade, and consumer protection.
NR 149.47(2)(a)(a) Laboratory test reports shall have formats that facilitate reviewing the content elements specified in this section, unless otherwise provided by pars.
(b),
(c), and
(d). Content elements may be presented in any form, including electronic media.
NR 149.47(2)(b)
(b) When tests are performed for internal clients or when a laboratory has a written agreement with a client, the laboratory may issue reports without all the content elements specified in this section. The laboratory shall retain and make available to the department, upon request, records that include the content elements specified in this section.
NR 149.47(2)(c)
(c) A laboratory that is operated by a facility whose function is to provide data to monitor the facility's compliance with covered programs shall retain and make available to the department, upon request, records that include the content elements specified in this section. Laboratory reports with all the content elements specified in this section are not required to be issued if any of the following apply:
NR 149.47(2)(c)1.
1. The laboratory is responsible for preparing regulatory reports in a specified format to the department.
NR 149.47(2)(c)2.
2. The laboratory provides information to another individual within the facility for preparation of regulatory reports in a specified format to the department.
NR 149.47(2)(d)
(d) Unless otherwise specified by the department, for covered programs that receive data on behalf of a facility, directly from a laboratory, or when provided by pars.
(b) and
(c), test reports from the laboratory shall include all the following information.
NR 149.47(2)(d)3.
3. The sample identifying information provided by the client or collector.
NR 149.47(2)(d)4.
4. Identification of the methods used for preparation and analysis.
NR 149.47(2)(d)6.
6. Collection, preparation, and analysis times for tests with holding times expressed in hours.
NR 149.47(2)(d)7.
7. The dates of analysis, extraction, or digestion, when a holding time has been established for the preparation step.
NR 149.47(2)(d)8.
8. When non-aqueous sample results are reported, the laboratory shall indicate whether the non-aqueous sample results were reported on a dry weight or wet weight basis.
NR 149.47(2)(d)9.
9. The LOD and LOQ for tests which the department requires reporting to the LOD.
NR 149.47(2)(d)10.
10. Except for HRGC/MS analysis, for sample results requiring adjustments, an indication of whether the LOD and LOQ have been adjusted accordingly.
NR 149.47 Note
Note:
Sample adjustments are any sample dilutions or sample amounts that were used differently than those used in the initial demonstration of capability and MDL studies.
NR 149.47(2)(d)14.
14. The identity of the subcontract laboratory, for each reported result generated by a subcontract laboratory.
NR 149.47(3)(a)
(a) A laboratory may make amendments to a test report already issued by the laboratory in a manner that clearly identifies the reasons for the amendment and that references the original laboratory test report.
NR 149.47(3)(b)
(b) Amended reports shall comply with the requirements of this section.
NR 149.47(4)
(4)
Sample rejection or qualification of results. The laboratory shall handle results for samples received with insufficient volume to complete the requested analyses, samples received beyond holding time, samples received improperly preserved, samples received in inappropriate containers, or samples received showing evidence that the samples have not been collected according to approved procedures as follows:
NR 149.47(4)(a)
(a) Drinking water samples shall be rejected for analysis unless the laboratory has documented instructions from the client to proceed with analyses and all reported results are accompanied by a disclaimer attesting that the results may not be used to determine or evaluate compliance with the safe drinking water act.
NR 149.47(4)(b)
(b) Non-drinking water samples shall be rejected for analysis or appropriately qualified.
NR 149.47(5)
(5)
Samples requiring reanalysis or qualification of results. Samples shall be re-analyzed, or the affected sample results qualified when any of the following occur:
NR 149.47(5)(a)
(a) The concentration of an analyte in the ICB exceeds its LOD.
NR 149.47(5)(e)
(e) Surrogates or internal standard recoveries exceed limits, unless the failures result from matrix interference, reanalysis is not required but the laboratory shall qualify the results of the affected samples.
NR 149.47(5)(f)
(f) When reporting results to the LOD, the concentration of each non-spiked target element in an interference check standard exceeds 10/3 their corresponding LOD for ICP analysis.
NR 149.47 Note
Note:
The examples for qualifying data listed in this section are common situations. Other situations may exist that could require qualification of data.
NR 149.47 History
History: CR 17-046: cr. Register February 2021 No. 782, eff. 6-29-21; correction in (2) (a) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register February 2021 No. 782. NR 149.48
NR 149.48
Quality control requirements for chemical testing. NR 149.48(1)(a)(a) A laboratory shall establish a quality control program that includes the analysis of appropriate quality control samples and quality control procedures that define their practices. These quality control procedures shall be used to assess all the following:
NR 149.48(1)(a)1.
1. The level of background contamination associated with the preparation and analysis of all samples.
NR 149.48(1)(a)4.
4. The bias contributed to sample results by all preparation and analysis steps.
NR 149.48(1)(b)
(b) A laboratory may not adjust or correct the sample results by the recoveries of associated quality control samples or surrogates unless otherwise allowed by method, regulation, or covered program. A laboratory may not subtract analyte concentrations found in method blanks from sample results unless otherwise allowed by method, regulation, or covered program.
NR 149.48(1)(c)
(c) A laboratory shall document deviations from the laboratory's quality system or exceedances of quality control samples. To the extent the department's data systems allow, the deviations shall be communicated with the results.
NR 149.48(1)(d)
(d) A laboratory shall establish procedures for identifying and documenting preparation batches that facilitate determining compliance with the frequencies of quality control samples required under this chapter.
NR 149.48(2)(a)(a) A laboratory shall determine the LOD for all tests performed except for any of the following:
NR 149.48(2)(a)1.
1. Biochemical oxygen demand and carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand.
NR 149.48(2)(a)2.
2. Tests for which analyzing a fortified sample is impossible or impractical.
NR 149.48(2)(b)
(b) A laboratory shall determine the LOD of an analyte annually by
40 CFR Part 136, Appendix B. All sample-processing steps of a method shall be included in the determination of a LOD.
NR 149.48 Note
Note:
Links to the
40 CFR Part 136, Appendix B can be found on the Wisconsin department of natural resources laboratory accreditation program website.
NR 149.48(2)(c)
(c) The LOD shall meet the regulatory limits required by the covered programs.
NR 149.48 Note
Note:
Exemptions to LOD requirements for specific compounds are provided on the Wisconsin department of natural resources laboratory accreditation program website.
NR 149.48(2)(d)
(d) The LOD shall be adjusted when the sample amounts used are different than those used for the LOD determination.
NR 149.48(2)(e)
(e) For tests exempted from performing an LOD under par.
(a), the laboratory shall establish a reporting limit, or an estimate of a test's sensitivity based on the intended use of the data for a given application.
NR 149.48(2)(f)
(f) The LOD shall be determined each time there is a change in a method or instrumentation that affects the sensitivity of an analysis.
NR 149.48(2)(g)
(g) For HRGC/MS technology, the estimated detection limit is defined in SW-846 8290A and is equivalent to the LOD.
NR 149.48(3)(a)(a) A laboratory shall establish the LOQ for all tests performed except for those exempted from an LOD under sub.
(2) (a).
NR 149.48(3)(b)
(b) The LOQ shall meet the regulatory limits required by the covered programs.
NR 149.48 Note
Note:
Exemptions to LOQ requirements for specific compounds are provided on the Wisconsin department of natural resources laboratory accreditation program website.
NR 149.48(3)(c)
(c) Except for ICP and ICP/MS single point initial calibrations, the LOQ shall be established as 10/3 the LOD or at the concentration of the lowest standard in the initial calibration. For ICP and ICP/MS, when single point initial calibrations are utilized, the LOQ shall be established as 10/3 the LOD or at the “lower limit of quantitation.”
NR 149.48 Note
Note:
The “lower limit of quantitation” is referenced in SW-846 6010C, 6010D, 6020A, and 6020B.
NR 149.48(4)(a)(a) Reporting limits are reserved for those analytes exempted under sub.
(2) (a) and shall be established based on a test's sensitivity and the intended use of the data.
NR 149.48(4)(b)
(b) For biochemical oxygen demand and carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand, the minimum reporting limit is 2 mg/L which is based on a 300 mL sample volume. When no dilution is equal to 300 mL, the reporting limit shall be adjusted based on the lowest dilution reported.
NR 149.48(4)(c)
(c) For total suspended solids, the reporting limit shall be determined using the following formula: Reporting Limit (mg/L) = 1000 / (sample volume filtered in mL).
NR 149.48(5)(a)(a) The laboratory shall process method blanks along with and under the same conditions, including all sample preparation steps, as the associated samples in a preparation batch.
NR 149.48 Note
Note:
Method blanks are not required for analysis of pH, alkalinity, acidity, conductivity, and solids determinations.
NR 149.48(5)(b)
(b) The laboratory shall process method blanks at a frequency of at least one per preparation batch up to 20 environmental samples. When samples are analyzed by methods that do not require a preparation step before analysis, a method blank shall be analyzed at the frequency of one per analytical batch up to 20 environmental samples.
NR 149.48(5)(c)
(c) Whenever the concentration of the method blank contains analytes of interest greater than the LOD, the laboratory shall evaluate the nature of the interference and its effect on each sample in a preparation batch.
