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Newsletter: August 1999

This is a brief update regarding the activities and progress for the Analytical Laboratory Technical Committee (ALTC) of the American Society for Quality Energy and Environmental Division. It is sent to those who responded to earlier mailings, who wish to remain informed about and/or participate in the activities of the ALTC.

Please send me an e-mail:
If you no longer wish to be on the e-mailing list. 
If you want to actively participate in one of the topical areas.
If you just want to read the e-mailings and know what we are doing.

Over 120 have told me to keep sending the e-mail newsletter. Several volunteers have offered to lead and help with subcommittees. Contact them and each other (and copy me) to join us.

PBMS and NELAC: Dr. Carl C. Kircher, Florida Dept. of Health, e-mail to: carl_kircher@doh.state.fl.us Others interested in this topic include Marlene Moore, mmoore@advancedsys.com; Ruth Change, rchang@ix.netcom.com; and Bart Simmons, bsimmons@ix.netcom.com

Ethics: Timothy L. Dawson, USEPA Region VI, e-mail to: dawson.timothy@epamail.epa.gov Others interested in this topic include Ann Rosecrance, annrosecrance@corelabcorp.com; Bernard Godek, bjgodek@uxb.com; and Jack Farrell, aex@ix.netcom.com. 
Good Automated Laboratory Practices: Lara Autry, autry.lara@epamail.epa.gov.

Make your plans for the Energy and Environmental Division's San Antonio conference, October 3-6, 1999. The theme is "Best Practices" for the Energy Industry, and the Analytical Laboratory session will be in the Government track of the program. Ann Rosecrance and Timothy Dawson are presenting papers at the ALTC session October 6. Chuck Wibby is also presenting in our session. You can find out more about the conference at the Division Website, http://www.envnet.org/asq/eed, then click on "Calendar" and "Upcoming Conferences."

I just received an e-mail from Gary Johnson, Past Division Chairman, who said we can expect to see the Draft International Standard ISO 17025 on calibration and testing laboratories voted on and passed later this year. It will go into effect in 2000. He suggests that the ALTC membership consider developing a session at the February, 2000 EED conference in Las Vegas that could present the changes from the old ISO 25 to the new ISO 17025, and the practical aspects and impacts on the labs. It could be a very effective tutorial. Remember, NELAC uses ISO 25 as a foundation for its policies and procedures, and plans to adopt ISO 17025 after passage; many labs will be affected. Contact me if you are interested in ISO 17025 in general and a Las Vegas presentation in particular. 

If you have news items of interest that you think would benefit our readers, please send them to me. These could include reports from other conferences or professional society meetings, lab industry changes, quality success stories, lessons learned, and helpful tips. I plan to issue monthly newsletters of our activities and progress.

Thanks for your time, interest, and efforts.

Paul Mills, Chairman, ALTC
Contact me at E-Mail: paul.mills@mentorprises.com
Phone/Fax: (703)-723-5983