Transitioning a Major National Monitoring Program: Transition Strategy, Current Status and Future Plans
Amy Mager1, Camille Danielson2, Chris Worley3 and Martin Shafer4
In September, 2017 a request for proposals was sent out to identify a new location for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) Program Office (PO) and Central Analytical Laboratory (CAL). On December 1, 2017 the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH/WCAL) was officially notified that the PO/CAL was moving to Wisconsin. A few (crazy) months later, the PO was transferred on March 1st, 2018 and on June 1st, 2018, all services related to supplies and sample analysis for the NTN, AIRMoN and AMoN networks were fully transitioned to WSLH. This presentation will provide an overview of our transition strategy, implementation highlights, and systems put in place to ensure acceptable performance of the CAL. We established three primary goals for the transition period (a) maintain continuity of operation, (b) produce comparable high-quality data, and © ensure that the transition was as non-disruptive as possible. Several visits were made to the existing CAL in Illinois (ICAL) to observe the facilities and processes. Space was identified and remodeled at two WSLH facilities to accommodate supply preparation, sample receiving and analysis. Supplies, equipment and NADP-dedicated analytical instruments were purchased. Though the analytical capabilities for NADP analytes already existed at the WSLH, the unique nature of the NADP program was best served by a dedicated infrastructure within the WSLH. This included porting the databases/LIMS from ICAL to WCAL. Extensive communication with ICAL and all network sites was done to clarify transition plans. A Readiness Verification Plan (RVP) was established by NADP’s Quality Assurance Advisory Group (QAAG) to assess the analytical variability between ICAL, WCAL and other labs. The NADP audit team also visited WSLH to evaluate WCAL’s systems. NADP-specific quality assurance practices were established and critical supply cleaning protocols were validated. Currently, processes are running smoothly, twelve staff have been hired and trained, and the RVP has been completed and is awaiting QAAG approval. Data are being produced and reviewed and will be published to the PO in September. We are now beginning the process of critically examining procedures in order to find improvements. We are exploring changes such as packaging of AMoN samplers, refining MDL determinations, improving quantification of bromide, creating an archive library and extensive cross-training of the analysts. We are also endeavoring to effectively document all of our procedures and QA practices. We will continue to investigate how we can further the NADP mission given the extensive capabilities available at WSLH.
1WSLH , amy.mager@slh.wisc.edu 2WSLH, camille.danielson@slh.wisc.edu 3WSLH, Chris.Worley@slh.wisc.edu 4WSLH, martin.shafer@slh.wisc.edu