Laboratory FAQS

• Q - If I am not certified by the DoH ELCP, what do I need to do?
  A - You will need to apply to the DoH ELCP for certification by October 9, 2002, and you must be certified by DoH no later than October 9, 2003.

• Q - What if DoH ELCP is unable to complete the certification process by October 9, 2003?
  A - If you have successfully completed all other components for certification, you will be granted interim approval until your audit.

• What do I need to be certified for?
  A - You must be certified for all test methods and analytes that will be used to report data to DEP.  In addition, if the DoH program identifies performance test samples in different matrices, you must also make sure that you obtain, analyze, and successfully pass performance test samples for all matrices that you will be testing.

• Q - What is different about the DoH ELCP certification?
  A - The DoH ELCP is a recognized accrediting authority for the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) and certifies all laboratories according to the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) standards.

• Q - I am already certified by the DoH ELCP, but I don’t have NELAP certification.  What do I do?
  A - Nothing.  The DoH ELCP is in the process of conducting on-site visits of laboratories that have not received NELAP certification.  If your on-site visit is satisfactory, and you have met all other DoH ELCP requirements, you will be certifed as a NELAP-certified laboratory.

• Q - My laboratory is already certified by the DoH ELCP as a NELAP-accredited laboratory.  What do I need to do?
  A - You will need to compare your list of certified test methods and analytes with the methods and analytes that are requested by your clients for results that are submitted to DEP.   You will need to apply for certification for any missing methods or analytes according to the time frames listed above (October 9, 2002 for application, October 9, 2003 for certification).

• Q - My laboratory also collects samples for clients.  Do I need to be certified for the test measurements that we do in the field?
  A - No.  The rule has two sets of exempted tests.
  
  If you apply for certification under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), you do not need to obtain certification for the following: alkalinity; bromide; calcium; chlorite (only at entrances to distribution systems); specific conductance; disinfectant residual (includes residual chlorine); orthophosphate; pH; silica; specific ultraviolet absorbance; temperature; total organic carbon or turbidity.  If there are DEP Standard Operating Procedures available (see FT 1100 – 2200), you must follow them when measuring these tests in the field.  For any other methods, you must follow the applicable test method are specified in the Drinking Water rules.
  
  If you apply for certification under any other program but the SDWA, you do not need to be certified for the following:  pH; dissolved oxygen; specific conductivity; temperature; total residual chlorine (including free available chlorine); transparency or light penetration; salinity; oxidation/reduction potential; turbidity (when performed at the sampling location); explosive gases (when monitoring for the Lower Explosive Limit); sulfite (when performed at the sampling location); sediment oxygen demand; and any other test with a specified holding time of fifteen minutes or less when performed at the sampling location.  You must follow the specific DEP SOP for the test measurement (see FT 1100 – 2200).

• Q - I am an out-of-state laboratory and I have NELAP certification.  What do I need to do?
  A - If your NELAP certification is not with the Florida DoH ELCP, you will need to apply to the DoH ELCP for secondary certification by October 9, 2002 and receive certification by October 9, 2003. 

• Q - I am an out-of state laboratory but I do not have NELAP certification.  What do I need to do?
  A - There are 12 NELAP-recognized accrediting authorities.  You may apply to any one of them.  Some of the accrediting authority programs are limited (e.g., Pennsylvania offers accreditation for the Safe Drinking Water Act), and you may need to apply to more than one accrediting authority to obtain certification for the methods and analytes that you will use to support DEP programs.  If you apply to a program other than Florida, you will need to apply for secondary accreditation from DoH ELCP.  Your secondary recognition from Florida must be completed by October 9, 2003.  If you apply to the Florida DoH ELCP, then you must apply for certification according to the time frames listed above (October 9, 2002 for application, October 9, 2003 for certification)

• Q - Where can I get an application to apply for certification?
  A - You can find the DoH application on the DEP web site: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/labs/qa/dohforms.htm or have one sent to you by calling the DoH offices in Jacksonville Florida:  (904) 791-1599.

• Q - My laboratory uses methods that are different from the EPA methods.  Do I need to be certified?
  A - Yes, if the laboratory results are being provided to DEP.  The DoH ELCP will consider and certify “non-standard methods” if all certification requirements are met.

• Q - All my laboratory does is taxonomic identification and other biological assessment.  Do I need to be certified.
  A - No, if you are performing taxonomic identifications, calculating the Stream Condition Index or the Lake Condition Index or making a Biorecon determination, you must follow the Standard Operating Procedures for Laboratory Activities (DEP-SOP-002/001).  You should begin to use these procedures on April 9, 2002.