Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories (2019) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
3 USGS Laboratories
3 USGS Laboratories
Pages 43-54
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 43... ...
In responding to the questionnaires, laboratory managers and principal investigators defined their own laboratory boundaries, with some grouping similar activities into a single laboratory, and some splitting similar activities into more than one laboratory. This exercise yielded 257 analytical laboratories.
|
From page 44... ...
, although most laboratories support multiple mission areas. Other laboratories are focused on a region (e.g., Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center Sediment Lab)
|
From page 45... ...
All of the laboratories focused primarily on supporting research had at least some written quality assurance and quality control procedures (e.g., standard operating procedures and analysis of duplicate samples, standards, and blanks) , and some had developed relatively comprehensive and documented approaches to data quality assurance.
|
From page 46... ...
regulators applicable environment, and development of tracers and new methods Microbiology Lab $0.3M to 2 Scientists, 3,500 Not started Microbiological, biogeochemical, and $0.5M regulators, hydrological analyses to understand commercial interactions between microbes and their environment Reston Stable Isotope Lab $0.6M to 8.5 Primarily 12,600 Not started Development of new stable isotope techniques $2M scientists and reference materials, and measurement of light element isotopic compositions Wetland Ecosystems $0.3M to 7 Scientists 2,500 Not started Biogeochemical analyses to understand Ecology and $0.5M material transport in watersheds, coastal and Biogeochemistry Laboratory estuarine processes, and wetland management August 2018, Denver Analytical Chemistry $0.6M to 10 Scientists, 12,000 In progress Analyses of bulk solid chemistry, mineralogy, Project $2M regulators, or physical properties, and chemical analysis of commercial inorganic or biological media Gas Chromatography/Mass $0.2M or 1 Scientists 4,500 Implemented Gas chromatograms to better understand the Spectrometry less origin, maturity, and secondary alteration of petroleum system components
|
From page 47... ...
National Water Quality $6M or 134 Scientists, 33,908 Implemented Environmental analytical chemistry in water, Laboratory more regulators sediment, and tissue to support national assessments and trend analysis Plasma Laboratory $0.6M to 5 Primarily 125 In progress Analyses of radiogenic and heavy stable $2M scientists isotopes in geological, biological, and hydrological materials Radiogenic Isotope $0.6M to 10 Primarily 1,500 Not started Radiogenic isotopic analyses to support Laboratory $2M scientists geochronology and tracer studies in rock, mineral, soil, water, and biological materials Spectroscopy Laboratory $0.6M to 3 Scientists 200–600 In progress Spectral measurement of samples, ultraviolet $2M to far infrared, to support spectroscopic and remote sensing research November 2018, Menlo Park Benthic Lab $0.3M to 3 Scientists, 650 Not started Analysis of benthic samples to help $0.5M regulators, characterize the benthic community of San commercial Francisco Bay Rock Physics Laboratory $0.3M to 5 Scientists, ~60 Not started Determination of physical, mechanical, and $0.5M regulators, chemical properties of rocks and fault zone commercial materials at elevated temperature and pressure Tephrochronology Project $0.3M to 3 Scientists 83 Not started Geochemical analysis of volcanic glass shards Laboratory $0.5M to determine provenance, date geologic events, and support geologic reconstructions Unsaturated Zone Flow $0.2M or 3 Scientists NA Not started Geochemical analysis to study aquifer Processes Lab less recharge, contaminant transport, slope stability, preferential flow, and ecohydrology 47 continued
|
From page 48... ...
c The nature of sample analysis varies widely among laboratories, and thus sample throughput does not necessarily reflect laboratory productivity. d Laboratory reported status of USGS-defined QMS implementation on the date of the site visit.
|
From page 49... ...
. The National Water Quality Laboratory also had a substantial number of standard operating procedures for laboratory management.
|
From page 50... ...
b Energy Environmental Labs 28 Implemented 10 9 technical methods and 1 laboratory management Environmental Organic 29 Not 38 34 technical methods, Geochemistry Lab (inactive) applicable 1 equipment management, and 3 laboratory management Microbiology Lab 34 Not started 44 40 technical methods, 1 equipment management, and 3 laboratory management Reston Stable Isotope Lab 40 Not started 28 21 technical methods, 6 equipment management, and 1 laboratory management Wetland Ecosystems Ecology 16 Not started 33 33 technical methods and Biogeochemistry Laboratory Analytical Chemistry Project 22 In progress 15 14 technical methods and 1 laboratory management covering multiple processes Gas Chromatography/ 44 Implemented 16 14 technical methods and Mass Spectrometry 2 laboratory management National Water Quality 41 Implemented 100 65 technical methods, Laboratory 8 equipment management, and 27 laboratory management Plasma Laboratory 6 In progress 1 1 technical method Radiogenic Isotope 60 years; Not started 4 4 technical methods Laboratory current form since 2016 Spectroscopy Laboratory 45 In progress 4 3 technical methods and 1 laboratory management Benthic Lab 43 Not started 2 1 technical method covering multiple processes and 1 laboratory management covering multiple processes Rock Physics Laboratory 49 Not started 0 Tephrochronology Project 45 Not started 6 1 technical method and Laboratory 5 laboratory management 50
|
From page 51... ...
b Unsaturated Zone Flow 50 Not started 1 5 technical methods Processes Lab Fish Health Laboratory -- 40 Not started 2 2 laboratory management Fish Culture and Pathology Functional Genomics, 40 Not started 24 24 technical methods Biomarker and Environmental Contaminant Bioanalysis a As of the site visit date. b Committee interpretation from the titles of the standard operating procedures.
|
From page 52... ...
All of the laboratories support USGS researchers, and about half also support the needs of federal, state, and local regulators and resource managers. The laboratories primarily supporting 1 The language of this sentence was modified after release of the publication version to reflect current USGS staffing plans.
|
From page 53... ...
Before the USGS QMS rollout began, most of its laboratories operated like academic research laboratories, with principal investigators obtaining funding and establishing quality assurance and quality control practices. Although laboratory staff recognize that more formal and comprehensive practices may have benefits, many are concerned that the USGS QMS will not meet their specific needs and that QMS implementation is moving too fast with inadequate staff, resources, and communication to roll it out properly.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.