QUALITY ASSURANCE POLICY STATEMENT

Quality Assurance consists of a planned system of activities necessary to provide confidence in the results of laboratory analytical determinations. The principal objective of GCAL is the production of high quality analytical data through the use of measurements that are accurate and reliable for the intended purpose. We are dedicated to providing analytical data and services that conform to all of the requirements specified and expected by our clients. This Quality Assurance Program Plan details facilities, personnel and equipment necessary for accomplishing this objective along with general procedures and practices which will be followed to maintain adherence to the objective.

There is a commitment and dedication by all laboratory staff to produce data of known and documented quality. This commitment and dedication to quality is fully supported from the bench level to upper management in order to meet the objectives of our laboratory and best serve our clients.

GCAL's approach to Quality Assurance starts with the General Manager who delineates policy and sets goals in conjunction with senior management personnel. Policies are implemented by management staff and laboratory personnel. All departments are involved in the process by providing assessment of operating procedures along with recommendations for improvements or corrections. The QAPP and the appropriate Standard Operating Procedures are distributed to all laboratory personnel. All personnel are required to read and comply with this program.

The Quality Assurance/Quality Control Director, who reports directly to the General Manager, oversees prevention, assessment, and correction procedures for the analytical laboratory and various associated departments within the organization. These three functions; prevention, assessment, and correction, comprise the foundation of the laboratory's approach to Quality Assurance.

Prevention covers positive actions taken before or during analyses to insure that the analytical systems are functioning properly. Prevention includes such things as instrument calibration and maintenance, frequent standardization, personnel training and quality control planning.

Assessment is a component of quality control that includes monitoring of performance to determine precision and accuracy. Examples include duplicate and spike analyses, check samples, peer review of calculations and validation of methodology.

Correction is action taken to determine the causes of quality defects and to restore proper functioning of the analytical system. This may involve trouble shooting to correct instrument malfunctions, or retraining of personnel.

All quality assurance activity requires constant monitoring and documentation to provide evidence of consistent, valid analytical data. GCAL keeps records of such activities in order to have available for its clients documented assurance that the data they receive quantitatively reflect the parameters requested.

The policies and practices of quality assurance/quality control presented in this plan are set forth as minimums. Additional quality assurance/quality control measures may be required for a specific project.