The health and safety executive interlaboratory quality control scheme for isocyanates.
The inclusion of isocyanate analysis within the AQUA (Analytical Quality Assurance) interlaboratory quality assurance scheme was established in 1984. (The AQUA interlaboratory quality assurance scheme is equivalent to external quality assessment, in North America the term proficiency testing is preferred.) The participants include university, industrial, occupational consultant and government laboratories, both in the U.K. and abroad. The AQUA isocyanate scheme is linked to a specific analytical method. MDHS 25 [Health and Safety Executive, Organic isocyanates in air: laboratory method using 1-(2-methoxyphenyl) piperazine solution and high performance liquid chromatography. H.M. Stationery Office, London (1987)]. Results from the first 4 years of the scheme's operation are reviewed and individual laboratory performance indices assessed against the mean interlaboratory performance indices. Most of the laboratories in the scheme show a marked improvement with time, which in some instances has followed help and advice from the HSE. There has also been an overall reduction in intralaboratory variability over this period.
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Occupational Medicine and Hygiene Laboratories, Health and Safety Executive, London, U.K.
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D003485:Cyanates / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D011786:Quality Control / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D003485:Cyanates; C005057:isocyanic acid