Soil & Growth Medium, Plants, Water,Fertiliser, Feeds
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AgriLASA Quality Control Scheme

 

Benefits to participating laboratories

The AgriLASA Quality Control Scheme

  • Assists in maintaining and increasing the accuracy level of your analyses.
  • Aids in increasing your confidence in the existing methods and results.
  • Provides a cost effective quality assurance program to members.
  • Can be used to indicate the current level of proficiency to existing and prospective clients.
  

Description of the AgriLASA Quality Control Scheme

The Quality Control Scheme is coordinated by Prof. Robin Barnard, who is contracted by AgriLASA.  The scheme consists of five disciplines:

  • Soil
  • Plants
  • Fertilisers.
  • Feed
  • Water

All participating laboratories receive confidential laboratory numbers from the control scheme coordinator.  The statistical program of the control scheme is web based.  It is recommended that members should have access to internet to enable them to capture results directly on AgriLASA’s webpage. Participating members choose their own unique login and passwords.  

Members who participate in the Soil, Plant and Fertiliser Disciplines annually receive 24 samples (2/round) and members of the Water and Feed Disciplines receive 12 samples (2/round).   Participating laboratories analyse the samples for those analytes they routinely test in each type of matrix. Laboratories can choose from a range of standard methods.

Data captured for every round are automatically processed at midnight of closing dates set by die control scheme coordinator.  Reports are released after verification by the coordinator.  Reports are confidential to participating laboratories and results are summarised as follows:

 

Lab

Analysis

*Z-Value

*Performance

Method

11

4.18

1.787

B

Not Applicable

25

4.15

1.349

B

Not Applicable

22

4.11

0.675

A

Not Applicable

13

4.11

0.675

A

Not Applicable

17

4.10

0.506

A

Not Applicable

12

4.10

0.506

A

Not Applicable

6

4.07

0.000

A

Not Applicable

3

4.04

-0.506

A

Not Applicable

65

4.04

-0.506

A

Not Applicable

15

4.02

-0.843

A

Not Applicable

26

3.96

-1.855

B

Not Applicable

28

3.93

-2.361

C

Not Applicable

10

3.82

-4.216

D

Not Applicable

Median : 4.07                       MAD (E): 0.06

* Click on z-value or Performance for more detailed information.

Results and participation are evaluated from January to December and certificates are awarded during the annual meeting held in March of the following year.  Recognition is only given to analytes in which laboratories conformed to the following standards of the control scheme:

* Award =          A mean absolute z-value of >/= 1-2 and a participation rate of more than 75 %

** Award =        A mean absolute z-value of </= 1 and a participation rate of more than 90 %