QUALITY ASSURANCE

Benchmark Analytics, Inc. has established a written QA/QC Program to be used throughout the laboratory division. This program serves as a comprehensive tool in governing all stages of our company's environmental data collection, validation, reduction and reporting activities.

Our program has been based primarily upon the QA/QC guidelines outlined by the EPA and NELAP for the testing of water and wastewater. We have also incorporated the additional requirements for the EPA Contract Laboratory Program and Good Laboratory Practice Standards as outlined in 40 CFR 160.

Our company participates in the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) and is accredited in microbiology, inorganics, metals, organics and radiology for an extensive list of parameters in wastewater and drinking water matrices.

We have implemented quality assurance policies and quality control procedures compliant with the quality systems requirements listed in the NELAC standards. Benchmark employees are required to perform initial practical and written training prior to performing analyses on client samples. Once training is complete and documented, employees must perform continual training on a yearly basis. Departments are also required to perform two P.E. samples annually for NELAP accredited parameters. Finally, the PADEP performs a NELAC audit once every two years for certification maintenance.