Laboratory standards and quality assurance

On this page

• Introduction
• Environmental Data Quality Assurance Regulation
• British Columbia Field Sampling Manual
• British Columbia Environmental Laboratory Manual
• Directory of Qualified Laboratories
• Split Sample Audit Program
• B.C. Environmental Laboratory Technical Advisory Committee
  • BCELTAC members

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Introduction

Environmental data provides critical information regarding the health of our natural resources.

The Laboratory Standards and Quality Assurance Unit is responsible for ensuring that environmental data produced by, for or on behalf of the Province of British Columbia is fit for its intended purpose.

This includes:

• Data generated by industry as required by permit
• Long-term trend data used to report on the health of our rivers and streams, and
• Data regarding health and safety

Environmental data is used to inform important decisions. It's imperative to ensure it meets stringent quality objectives.

To achieve these objectives, our unit provides:

• Auditing programs
• Laboratory services
• Data surveillance
• Sampling and analytical methods and guidance

Our services cover every aspect of environmental data generation, from sampling to analysis.

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Environmental Data Quality Assurance Regulation

The Environmental Data Quality Assurance Regulation (EDQAR) applies to Environmental Management Act authorization holders and outlines requirements on sampling, analysis, quality control and reporting. The regulation also includes qualification criteria for laboratories producing environmental data.

Following a review of the revised EDQAR, the province has decided not to proceed with implementing the 2023 revisions.

Instead, amendments have been made to the current Environmental Data Quality Assurance Regulation to improve flexibility while maintaining confidence in the quality and reliability of environmental data used to support regulatory decision-making.

The amendments:

• Update accreditation-related definitions to align with current laboratory qualification options
• Expand eligibility for inclusion in the Directory of Qualified Laboratories
• Provide greater flexibility for laboratory qualification where accredited methods or proficiency testing are not available or appropriate

EDQAR guidance

Draft guidance to support compliance with the Environmental Data Quality Assurance Regulation will be available soon. Comments will be invited on the draft materials.

Guidance clarifies regulatory requirements related to:

• Environmental sampling
• Laboratory analysis
• Quality assurance, and
• Laboratory qualification

Questions and feedback

If you have questions about the Environmental Data Quality Assurance Regulation (EDQAR), including its requirements, how it applies to your situation, or compliance with the regulation, please contact EDQAR@gov.bc.ca.

If you have questions about the Directory of Qualified Laboratories, a laboratory's qualification status, qualification requirements, or how to apply for approval to use an alternative qualification method, please contact LabStandards@gov.bc.ca.

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British Columbia Field Sampling Manual

The information contained within the British Columbia Field Sampling Manual (BCFSM) includes:

• All aspects of QA/QC
• Sampling methods and techniques, and
• Templates and considerations crucial in the formulation of sampling plans

Sampling methods published in the BCFSM must be followed by authorization holders required to:

• Collect samples
• Submit environmental monitoring data to the province

As an openly published document, the manual provides guidance for environmental professionals to facilitate consistency in sampling and ultimately the data produced by that sampling.

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British Columbia Environmental Laboratory Manual

The British Columbia Environmental Laboratory Manual (BCELM) provides analytical methods approved by the province for the analytical testing of environmental media.

The BCELM is a living document that's frequently updated to address emerging contaminants and technological changes.

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Directory of Qualified Laboratories

The Directory of Qualified Laboratories (the Directory) includes laboratories that have met data quality standards outlined by the Environmental Data Quality Assurance Regulation (EDQAR) for specific parameters.

A person required to submit environmental monitoring data to the province of B.C. as a requirement of an order, permit, licence, approval or certificate issued under the Environmental Management Act (EMA) must use a qualified laboratory for the analysis of discrete environmental samples.

A laboratory is considered qualified once they have met the criteria indicated in the EDQAR. Laboratories must submit a B.C. Laboratories Data Release Authorization Form (PDF, 2.8MB) to each accreditation body and proficiency testing provider they use to authorize release of accreditation data to the ministry.

Once the ministry has received satisfactory accreditation data, the laboratory and its specific parameters will be listed in the Directory. The laboratories listed are not preferred or endorsed by the ministry. They're qualified in accordance with the regulation.

Additional resources and information:

• Access to the Directory requires a Business BCeID account
  • To register, please visit BCeID
• When submitting accreditation data or PT results (qualification data) to the ministry, the specified file formats are required
  • Review the specifications of the file format and example CSV text files:
    • For accreditation bodies: Upload File Format Specifications (Accreditation Data) (PDF, 71KB)
      • Example: Upload Accreditations (CSV, 716B)
    • For PT providers: Upload File Format Specifications (PT Results Data) (PDF, 68KB)
      • Example: Upload PT Test Results (CSV, 442B)
    • For laboratories: Upload File Format Specifications (PT Results from a Laboratory) (PDF, 73KB)
      • Example: Upload Laboratory Test Results (CSV, 386B)
• For more information, please contact LabStandards@gov.bc.ca

Laboratories are encouraged to review the latest notice from 2024:

• Laboratory Accreditation and Proficiency Testing Status (PDF, 133KB)

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Split Sample Audit Program

Industries that operate within B.C. are required to monitor and test the quality of the effluents they are permitted to discharge.

Analytical data provided to the ministry by permit holders is used to monitor and ensure compliance with the permits that authorize their discharge and account for the environmental protection they are designed to accomplish.

The Split Sampling Audit Program is designed to ensure that the environmental data produced by industry meets an acceptably high level of quality.

To learn more about the program, consult the Split Sample Audit Program Guidance Document for Permit Holders (PDF, 327KB).

For more information, contact SplitSampleAudits@gov.bc.ca.

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B.C. Environmental Laboratory Technical Advisory Committee

The B.C. Environmental Laboratory Technical Advisory Committee (BCELTAC) is a partnership of government and the private sector.

BCELTAC is a technical advisory group that provides guidance to the ministry on the development and maintenance of field sampling and laboratory methods.

For more information, consult the BCELTAC Terms of Reference (PDF, 171KB). 

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BCELTAC members

• Mark Hugdahl (Chair) – ALS Environmental
• Kristopher Beaudet (Vice-Chair) – Bureau Veritas
• Blair Irwin (Secretary) – Laboratory Standards and Quality Assurance Unit, ENV
• Lauretta Liem – Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
• Oxana Blajkevitch – Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
• Dr. Dayue Shang – Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
• Craig Buday – Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
• Jada Benjamin – AGAT Laboratories
• Bryan Shaw – CARO Analytical Services
• Dr. Barry Loescher – Bureau Veritas  
• Simone Mol – Contaminated Sites Approved Professionals (CSAP)
• Max Hewitt – Element Materials Technology
• Reena Badwel – Element Materials Technology
• Rachel Eden – Element Materials Technology
• Ken Murray – Laboratory Standards and Quality Assurance Unit, ENV
• Colleen Delaney – Land Remediation, Regional Operations Branch, ENV
• David Hope – Pacific Rim Labs
• Jeff Lang – Powertech Labs
• Stephen Varisco – Powertech Labs

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