How does the programme operate
Register of quality approved laboratories
The Intercalibration Programme, which has been in operation since 1993, is designed to ensure that laboratories that provide, either directly or indirectly, water chemistry data to the EPA meet the necessary performance standards.
Section 66 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 provides for the EPA to:
The EPA Intercalibration Programme is the only Irish scheme for the chemical testing of water samples listed on the INAB website detailing Proficiency Testing (PT) Providers. The programme was established to operate in accordance with ISO Guide 43 “Proficiency testing by Interlaboratory Comparisons” (since revised by ISO 17043:2010) and is recognised by INAB in terms of suitability as a PT scheme for the participating laboratories as part of their accreditation status. The programme is also the only Irish scheme listed on the European Proficiency Testing Information System (EPTIS) database.
The programme includes the following main elements:
The programme covers various water chemistry parameters which are detailed in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Current parameters in EPA Intercalibration Programme (BOD, biochemical oxygen demand; COD, chemical oxygen demand).
A register of quality approved laboratories which would normally be expected to send data to the EPA has been established. Inclusion in the register is based on performance in the programme during the previous calendar year. The register is updated annually.
For a laboratory to be included on the register they must meet the following criteria for each parameter (based on five rounds per annum):
View or download the Register of Quality Approved Laboratories here.
Price structure effective 1st January 2022
| Number of categories | Annual price |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 | €410 |
| 3 to 5 | €810 |
If you wish to participate in the 2024 EPA Intercalibration Programme please register here:
