Central California Ozone Study (CCOS) - Desert Research Institute

CCOS Field Operations Plan Version 2: 5/31/00
The audit will examine the adequacy of field data such as station logs and checklists, and
will determine how these are used in the data processing and validation procedures of each
organization. The audit will check the organizations procedures designed to perform anomaly
screening of the data. The audit will also confirm all steps taken to verify the accuracy of the
polled data, and determine if the digital data are confirmed using the backup strip charts (and if
so, what acceptance tolerance is defined).
The standard operating procedures of each organization will be reviewed with the data
processing staff during the audit. Special attention will be paid to the decision-making chain-ofcommand
of each organization. The chain-of-command will be discussed and confirmed for
routine data processing and validation as well as for cases where problems are encountered. The
resolution of problems by the data processing staff will be confirmed during the audit. The audit
will also document the procedures used for data editing.
The data processing audits will also document the data management procedures of each
organization. This includes confirming the data base structure and the proper entry of site,
parameter, unit, and reporting precision codes by each organization. The audit will also
determine the existence and adequacy of data backup procedures used by each organization.
4.4.9 Laboratories
The system audits of the organization laboratories will begin with the review of the
QIWPs and SOPs. Comments from those reviews will serve to ensure that analyses are
appropriate to achieve the stated program goals and that the laboratory QA programs and
procedures are consistent with the selected analyses. The second step will be for the laboratory
auditor to travel to each of the organization's laboratories. The system audits in this phase will
consist of a detailed inspection of each of the organization's laboratory facilities along with an
evaluation of the following program components, in accordance with the respective QIWP:
sample logging, storage and identification methods; calibration procedures; preparation and
storage of standards; quality control checks (such as blanks and duplicates); chain-of-custody
protocols; data reduction, validation and reporting methods; and the documentation of all
pertinent actions.
Systems audits will be similar for each of the three laboratories. A systems audit will
provide qualitative evaluation of the overall operations of the laboratory. Emphasis is given to
confirming that all project quality control (QC) procedures are preformed and that acceptance
criteria are met. Preventive maintenance will be evaluated as well as corrective action
procedures. Data traceably will be verified by randomly selecting a reported value and working
back through intermediate calculations and supporting paper work to the raw values. This check
confirms error free calculation and ensures that supporting documentation is present.
Also included in the system audits will be interviews of all laboratory staff working on
the project. The interviews will focus on the staff’s familiarity with the job(s) they are
performing for the project, how they track samples and assurance of data quality and to whom
they report problems when a parameter or system is outside of the control limits.
Chapter 4: QUALITY ASSURANCE 4-14