Current Evaluation Protocol

Programs Evaluated

CAP: College of American Pathologists
NYS: New York State Department of Health
WSLH: Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene

Surveys Evaluated

CAP: 2011 BL-A to 2011 BL-C
NYS: 2011, Event #1 to 2011, Event #3
WSLH: Event 2011-1 to Event 2011-3

Evaluation Period

12 months or equivalent time period

CAP: 3 surveys
NYS: 3 surveys
WSLH: 3 surveys

When new survey results are received, drop the oldest survey results and add the newest survey results to determine current status.

Evaluation Criteria

89% (or greater) acceptable sample results

CAP: 14 out of 15 acceptable
NYS: 14 out of 15 acceptable
WSLH: 14 out of 15 acceptable

Individual sample results are acceptable if they are within 6 µg/dL of the target value (or all-method mean) if that value is less than 40 µg/dL; or within 15% of the target (or all-method mean) if that value is greater than 40 µg/dL. ALL proficiency test (PT) samples are evaluated by OSHA.

For the CAP, WSLH and NYS surveys, OSHA will also approve laboratories that achieve 89% in the prior 4 surveys (which is approximately 12 months).

Laboratories are evaluated based on the program they have requested. CAP sends results to OSHA only at the request of the laboratory. NYS and WSLH send all results to OSHA, but coded by a laboratory code number. Laboratories must contact both OSHA and the PT program organization to be evaluated based on the NYS or WSLH program.

OSHA approval is now available to participants in the le Centre de Toxicologie du Quebec (CTQ) program. Contact OSHA and the CTQ for more information.

OSHA Limits for CAP Surveys

OSHA will evaluate ALL PT samples without regard to laboratory agreement with the consensus value. The CAP target value and acceptable limits for the current evaluation (Survey BL-B 2008 through Survey BL-A 2009) are listed below: