Developments in quality assurance in marine environmental monitoring. The QUASIMEME II Laboratory Performance Studies and EU quality assurance of sample handling (QUASH) project

The EU project QUASIMEME 1993–1996 has now developed in two directions. The inter-laboratory studies have been extended to incorporate the UK National Marine AQC test requirement by extending the range of determinands to include aqueous samples for trace metals and organic contaminants as well as the nutrients. The Laboratory Performance Studies (LPS) are based on six-monthly series with two test materials at two levels on each occasion. The LPS is now a subscription based study which is available to laboratories worldwide and has a current membership of some 120 institutes. A second project entitled QUASH 1996–2000 which is funded by the EU, is focusing on the quality assurance of sampling and sample handling. The QUASH studies are divided onto six key areas. These cover (i) the sampling and preservation of nutrients, (ii) sample preparation of sediments and the measurement of co-factors for trace metal and organic contaminant analysis, (ii) sampling and sample handling of fish and shellfish, (iii) measurement of the co-factors for trace metal and organic contaminant analysis of biological tissue and (iv and v) the preparation of test materials and associated inter-laboratory studies. The project will be co-ordinated on a two-tier system with national centres for each European country forming one level and national laboratories forming the second.