| A2LA = | American Association for Laboratory Accreditation |
| AWAL = | American West Analytical Laboratories |
| BOD = | Biochemical Oxygen Demand |
| BTEX = | Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes |
| CAR = | Corrective Action Report |
| CERCLA = | Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act |
| CLP = | Contract Laboratory Program. The program set up by the USEPA to regulate Superfund (CERCLA) activities including sampling, analysis, and data validation. |
| COC = | Chain of Custody |
| COD = | Chemical Oxygen Demand |
| CWA = | Clean Water Act. Includes waste water from NPDES and related sources. Reference is 40 CFR Part 136 |
| DBCP = | 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane |
| DQO = | Data Quality Objectives. Qualitative and quantitative statements derived from the DQO process that clarify study technical and quality objectives, define the appropriate type of data, and specify tolerable levels of potential decision errors that will be used as the basis for establishing the quality and quantity of data needed to support decisions. |
| DRO = | Diesel Range Organics |
| EDB = | Ethylene Dibromide. AWAL uses the IUPAC name “Dibromoethane”. |
| ELAP-DOD = | Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program – Department of Defense |
| FID = | Flame Ionization Detector |
| GALP = | Good Automated Laboratory Practices |
| GC = | Gas Chromatograph or Gas Chromatography |
| GC/MS = | Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry |
| GFAA = | Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption |
| GLP = | Good Laboratory Practices |
| GRO = | Gasoline Range Organics |
| ICP = | Inductively Coupled Plasma. An atomic emission instrument for the analysis of metals. |
| ICP/MS = | Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry |
| ISO 17025 = | International Organization for Standardization – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories |
| IUPAC = | International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry |
| LCS = | Laboratory Control Sample. A laboratory generated blank sample spiked with target analytes. |
| LIMS = | Laboratory Information Management System |
| MCL = | Maximum Contaminant Level |
| MDL = | Method Detection Limit. A calculated limit determined by analyzing at least 7 replicate samples of the same concentration (2-5 times the expected MDL). The standard deviation is determined and multiplied by the student T value for the number of samples analyzed. This method reference is 40 CFR Part 136 Appendix B. |
| MS = | Matrix Spike. A sample spiked with a known concentration of target analyte(s) used for accuracy information. |
| MSD = | Matrix Spike Duplicate. A second spiked sample used for both accuracy and precision information when compared to the MS. |
| MTBE = | Methyl tert-butyl Ether |
| NELAC = | National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Committee |
| NELAP = | National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program. A nationwide laboratory certification program. |
| NLLAP = | National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program |
| NPDES = | National Pollution Discharge Elimination System |
| PAH = | Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons |
| PID = | Photoionization Detector |
| PNA = | Polynuclear Aromatic |
| PP = | Priority Pollutants |
| PQL = | Practical Quantitation Limit. Usually a factor of approximately 3-5 times the laboratory MDL to better simulate a real sample matrix since the MDL is determined in a deionized water matrix. |
| QA/QC = | Quality Assurance/Quality Control |
| QAPP or QAPjP = | Quality Assurance Project Plan. A formal document describing in comprehensive detail the necessary QA, QC, and other technical activities that must be implemented to ensure the results of the work performed will satisfy the stated performance criteria. |
| QMP = | Quality Management Plan. A formal document that describes the quality system in terms of the organizational structure, functional responsibilities of management and staff, lines of authority, and required interfaces for those planning, implementing, and assessing all activities conducted. |
| RCRA = | Resource Conservation and Recovery Act |
| SAP = | Sampling and Analysis Plan |
| SDWA = | Safe Drinking Water Act. Includes public and private drinking water. References is 40 CFR Parts 141 and 143. |
| SOP = | Standard Operating Procedure. A written document that details the method for an operation, analysis, or action with thoroughly prescribed techniques and steps, and that is officially approved as the method for performing certain routine or repetitive tasks. |
| SPLP = | Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure. Part of RCRA regulation. |
| Surrogates = | Surrogate compounds are substances normally not found in nature that are intentionally added at a known concentration and a recovery in percent is calculated. |
| TAT = | Turnaround Time. The time from sample receipt until final data is transmitted. |
| TCLP = | Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure. Part of RCRA regulation. |
| TDS = | Total Dissolved Solids |
| TKN = | Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen |
| TOC = | Total Organic Carbon |
| TOX = | Total Organic Halogens |
| TPH = | Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons |
| TPPH = | Total Purgeable Petroleum Hydrocarbons |
| TQM = | Total Quality Management |
| TRPH = | Total Recoverable Petroleum Hydrocarbons |
| TSCA = | Toxic Substances and Control Act |
| TSS = | Total Suspended Solids |
| TTO = | Total Toxic Organics (Priority Pollutant List of Organics including volatiles, semi-volatiles, and pesticides/PCBs). |
| TVS = | Total Volatile Solids |
| USEPA = | United States Environmental Protection Agency |
| UST = | Underground Storage Tank |
| VOA = | Volatile Organic Analysis |
| VOC = | Volatile Organic Compounds |
| VOX = | Volatile Organic Halogens |
| WAD = | Weak Acid Dissociable (term used in cyanide analysis). |
