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FINDING THE BALANCE - QUALITY ASSURANCE REQUIREMENTS VS. RESEARCH NEEDS
Citation:
Evans, J. D. AND A M. Leitzinger*. FINDING THE BALANCE - QUALITY ASSURANCE REQUIREMENTS VS. RESEARCH NEEDS. Presented at ACS Emerging Technologies in Hazardous Waste Management VII, Atlanta, GA, September 17 - 20, 1995.
Impact/Purpose:
to present information
Description:
Investigators often misapply quality assurance (QA) procedures and may consider QA as a hindrance to developing test plans for sampling and analysis. If used properly, however, QA is the driving force for collecting the right kind and proper amount of data. Researchers must use QA procedures to insure that data quality meets a specified "need." Investigators must define this need prior to initiating sampling activities. The need varies in that it can encompass proof of principle objectives, treatability testing, technology acceptance, or regulatory compliance. QA conforms to these different needs once researchers define data requirements and delegate objectives into critical and non-critical roles. This paper presents a format for determining the quality needed for different sampling and analysis activities based upon data needs. It also demonstrates how project requirements dictate the procedures used and the number of data points collected. The approach presented is a graded approach to QA and adjusts data needs accordingly.