Trace Analytical Laboratories

Trace has been accredited by the Department of Defense (DoD)
Trace Laboratories is pleased to announce that it has been accredited by the U.S. Department of Defense Environmental Laboratory Accredidation Program (DoD-ELAP). This accreditation process took almost one year to complete and is an additional requirement to our NELAP certification for supporting DoD environmental restoration programs for Army, Navy, and Air Force projects.

DoD-ELAP accreditation provides a means for environmental laboratories to demonstrate their continued compliance with stringent QA/QC requirements. A key component of the accreditation process is the performance of quarterly Limit of Quantitation (LOQ) and Limit of Detection (LOD) samples. Every three months, the laboratory must prepare and analyze samples at the lowest concentration levels it reports to clients. This is done for each analytical test conducted. Results are documented to verify the laboratory's ability to achieve the reporting limits provided to its clients on their data reports. Upper and lower LOQ limits must also be developed and reported for all conducted tests. These serve to verify the degree of accuracy that can be expected for low-level sample results and must be reported on the client's reports. This goes beyond NELAP requirements that laboratories must conduct detection limit studies once per year. In addition, DoD-ELAP accreditation requires that our laboratory be audited yearly to ensure compliance meets all DoD requirements.

What this means for our clients: Environmental laboratories that are only required to conduct detection limit studies once per year normally clean their instruments just prior to the test. This ensures the instrument will perform optimally and produce a good value for the detection limit study. This does not guarantee that the instrument will perform well throughout the remainder of the year. In fact, instrument performance often falls off within 2-3 months. However, the DoD requirement mandates that laboratories continually keep their instruments clean and in optimal working condition. Otherwise, the laboratory would never be able to meet the requirements for quarterly LOQ and LOD verification. Trace clients receive more reliable test results, especially for analytes at or near the stated reporting limit. This can be extremely important for many environmental restoration projects, especially those with litigation potential.
back to top

Trace is accredited by NELAP
Trace is accredited by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) and provides analytical services in compliance with the requirements of the Department of Defense Quality Systems Manual for Environmental Laboratories to support Department of Defense projects (e.g. USACE, AFCEE, U.S. Navy).
back to top

In 2010, Trace was awarded its fourth consecutive professional service contract by the State of Michigan
This contract award is based upon the MDEQ's review of Trace's experience, personnel, quality assurance/quality control, pricing, turnaround time, and range of services. This contract allows Trace to provide laboratory services directly to the State of Michigan and its contractors. Trace provides both fixed and mobile laboratory services as part of this contract.
back to top

Trace provides MDEQ EzSet EDD
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) requests all data being submitted to their agency, be in the MDEQ's EzSet EDD format. This allows for a quick comparison to criteria outlined in the Remediation and Redevelopment Division's (RRD's) Operational Memorandum No.2 (Op Memo 2). Trace's Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) captures all required data at time of sample log-in. We can therefore regenerate the MDEQ EzSet EDD for any sample, at any time, and at no additional cost to the client.

Trace keeps the LIMS system updated with changes that occur as Op Memo 2 undergoes updates.
back to top

Trace is NELAP accredited to analyze for explosive residues
The United States government closes and dismantles military installations and munitions manufacturing facilities, resulting in major environmental concerns. Residues of explosives, such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and methyl-2,4,6¬trinitophenylnitroamine (Tetryl), as well as their associated nitrogenous impurities have been found in the soils and ground waters at many of these facilities. Many of these materials have been determined to be highly toxic and persistent in the environment, requiring that these BRAC sites be thoroughly characterized for appropriate remediation activities.

Trace has been accredited by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) to analyze environmental samples for these explosive residues by the EPA SW-846 8330 method. This method utilizes High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to separate and identify thermally unstable and non-volatile compounds. Compound identification is confirmed by using dissimilar chromatography columns or mobile phases. Trace can now take the confirmation one-step further by use of a diode-array detector to compare sample spectra with spectra generated by certified residue standards. Trace uses these procedures to ensure that our clients get the defensible data they need.
back to top

Trace can perform USEPA Method 24
Trace can perform USEPA Method 24 for the determination of volatile content of coatings. Results from Method 24, informs manufacturers of the Volatile Organic content of their coatings to assure their compliance with state regulations and permits.
back to top

Trace is one of few labs that performs TOC analysis of soils and sediments
The decomposition of plant and animal material is responsible for naturally occurring forms of organic carbon in soils. Soils and sediments often contain a large variety of organic materials such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, oils, waxes and organic acids resulting from the biological breakdown of plant and animal debris. Artificial inputs of carbon from man's activities, also contribute to the organic content of soils and sediments.

The amount of organic matter in soil is an important consideration due to its ability to form both water-soluble and water insoluble complexes with metal and hydrous ions. Organic carbon interacts with clay minerals to help bind the particles together and assists with absorbing and releasing plant nutrients. The ability of a soil to retain water is also a function that is related to the soil's organic carbon content.

Trace uses the Walkley Black method for the determination of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) in soils. This method relies on rapid dichromate oxidation of organic matter using a standardized potassium dichromate solution.
back to top

Trace takes best approach to analyze Tedlar Bags
The benefits of using Tedlar bags for air sample analysis are well known. They are lightweight, easy to fill, less expensive, easy to transport, and lend themselves well to analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). Tedlar bags have been found to provide reliable data quality for most volatile analytes when the instrument was calibrated against standards prepared in a gaseous matrix.

In a recent blind comparison with another laboratory analyzing performance evaluation samples, Trace achieved an accuracy rating of 86% of the true value. The other laboratory achieved an accuracy rating of only 50%. Their procedure used calibration standards prepared in a liquid matrix.
back to top

Trace can test for dissolved gases in water
A number of Trace clients routinely request analysis of groundwater samples for dissolved gases. Trace typically analyzes these samples for methane, ethane and ethene gases using Method RSK-175. This analysis is conducted on water samples, submitted in septum equipped Tedlar bags (Istotek Method) or in 40 ml VOA vials. Care must be taken to ensure the collected samples have no headspace. Analyses are conducted on an FID equipped gas chromatograph.
back to top

Low-level mercury testing
Trace has been analyzing samples for NPDES permit applications requiring low-level Mercury analysis by EPA 1631 since 2001. Trace is listed by the State of Michigan as being able to meet the required detecting levels.
back to top

Trace can test paint and consumer products for lead
In addition to analyzing paint chips from homes and businesses to determine if they originate from lead based paint, Trace can also test ceramics and plastics to verify the lead content in a product or its coating. We use a technique that allows for very accurate testing, and can also perform analysis on wipe samples to test for the presence of lead dust.
back to top

Analysis of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical intermediates
Trace has often been asked to analyze pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical intermediates for specific organic compounds. Typical analytes include acetates, amines, esters, alcohols and glycols, in addition to conventional volatile compounds. Several of our chemists have prior experience working for the pharmaceutical industry and can use GC/MS, GC/FID and HPLC techniques to assist with your analytical requirements.
back to top

Explosive Residues

Low-level Mercury

Lead

Pharmaceuticals