New - Link to EPA Methods now available on the EPA Website. Click here to view the methods.
What is Laboratory Certification?
The Office of Environmental Laboratory Certification offers certification to laboratories wishing to analyze samples for South Carolina's Department of Health and Environmental Control. This scope of accreditation covers the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act, and Solid & Hazardous Wastes including RCRA and CERCLA requirements (SW-846 methodologies).
This site includes the information required by laboratories to apply for certification. If the laboratory has questions that it cannot find on the site, please select "Contact Us" and speak with any Laboratory Certification Officer for assistance.
How Do I Apply for Certification?
If a laboratory wishes to become certified in South Carolina, a complete application package must be submitted. This includes the application fee, a completed appli cation form signed by the laboratory director, a letter designating the laboratory director (an example form is included in the application itself), a copy of the laboratory QA Manual (this can be included in the individual SOPs for smaller laboratories), copies of SOPs for all of the methods requested, acceptable Proficiency Testing (PT) sample results from an A2LA-accredited PT Provider for every method and analyte requested, a copy of the accrediting authority's certificate and analyte sheets for out-of-state laboratories, and copies of completed bench sheets for in-state laboratories. To complete the application, application instructions are included in this website under "Instructions for the Application for Certification" (pdf).
Click here for a list of A2LA-approved PT Providers.
Proficiency Testing (PT) Samples
Proficiency Testing (PT) samples are used to measure a laboratory's proficiency in analyzing a particular method for specified analytes. The laboratory must participate in Water Supply (WS) and/or Water Pollution (WP) studies annually as required. The laboratory must obtain samples that are part of an official study obtained from an A2LA-approved provider. For more specific information refer to "Proficiency Testing Requirements" and "Approved PT Providers".
The Update
The Update is a periodic publication of this Office used to inform the regulated community of policy changes, policy clarifications, helpful hints, answers to recent questions, and general guidance. Past and current publications are available.
What if I have questions?
If you have any questions regarding the laboratory certification process, a laboratory's certification status, your laboratory's certification, or any other questions, please go to "Contact Us". This has the main office telephone number as well as e-mail links to the staff members. We will be happy to assist you.
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