Split Sample and Blind Sample Programs - Chesapeake Bay Program

<body> <H4>Split Sample and Blind Sample Programs</H4><UL><LI><A HREF="#wqc">Water Quality Coordinated Split Sample Program</A></LI><LI><A HREF="#pss">Plankton Split Sample Programs</A></LI><LI><A HREF="#ncb">Nutrient and Chlorophyll Blind Audit Samples</A></LI><LI><A HREF="#pun">Performance on USGS Nutrient Reference Samples</A> </LI></UL><H4>Water Quality Coordinated Split Sample Program<A NAME="wqc"></A></H4><P>The Chesapeake Bay Program initiated the Coordinated Split Sample Program (CSSP) in 1988 to assess the comparability of water quality results from Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Laboratories. The water quality CSSP has three components, Mainstem, Tidal Tributary, and Fall Line, each representing a different salinity levels in the watershed. Maryland DNR staff collect and split natural water samples four times a year on routine mainstem and tributary monitoring cruises. USGS staff collect Fall Line split samples at the twice per year. In June 1999, CSSP sampling and data analysis protocol (to be revised) were modified to better estimate inter-laboratory variability. </P><P>Laboratories report split sample results to the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office in Annapolis where they are analyzed, reviewed by quality assurance staff, and discussed quarterly at <A HREF="../amqawg.htm" TARGET="_top">Analytical Methods and QA Workgroup</A> meetings. When there is poor agreement among the lab results, the group investigates significant differences in methods and recommends corrective actions. </P><BLOCKQUOTE><P><B>Documentation:</B></P></BLOCKQUOTE><UL><LI>Procedures for Sampling and Analyzing Mainstem and Tributary Split Samples (pdf)</LI><LI>Electronic Format for Reporting Water Quality Split Samples (pdf) </LI><LI>Mainstem Split Sample Graphs (through MM/YY) (pdf)</LI><LI>Tidal Tributary Split Sample Graphs (through MM/YY) (pdf)</LI><LI>Fall Line Split Sample Graphs (through MM/YY) (pdf)</LI><LI>Problems Identified, Action Items, and Resolution (need to develop)</LI><LI>Chesapeake Bay Program Mainstem Coordinated Split Sample Program Report 1994-1998 (pdf)</LI></UL><H4>Plankton Split Sample Programs<A NAME="pss"></A></H4><P>In 1998, the Chesapeake Bay Program initiated split sample programs for Phytoplankton, Microzooplankton and Mesozooplankton to make plankton counts Maryland and Virginia directly comparable. For phytoplankton and microzooplankton, modifications to existing methods made them comparable but it was necessary to select a single method for mesozooplankton. Plankton split samples continue to be collected each year and the Plankton Methods Workgroup meets once per year to review the results and identify potential differences in methodologies and taxonomic identifications. </P><BLOCKQUOTE><P> <B>Documentation:</B></P></BLOCKQUOTE><UL><LI>Procedures for Counting and Reporting Plankton Split Samples (pdf)</LI><LI>Format for Reporting Plankton Split Sample Results (pdf) future online data entry??</LI><LI>Split Sampling Study for the Maryland and Virginia Mesozooplankton Monitoring Programs - Final Report, June 2000 (pdf)</LI><LI>The 1998 - 1999 Split Sample Study for Chesapeake Bay Program Phytoplankton & Microzooplankton Monitoring Programs - Final Report, June 2000 (pdf)</LI></UL><H4>Nutrient and Chlorophyll Blind Audit Samples<A NAME="ncb"></A></H4><P>The Chesapeake Bay QA Program also uses low level blind audit samples to check water quality laboratory performance. The <A HREF="http://www.cbl.umces.edu/nasl/index.html" TARGET="_top">Chesapeake Biological Laboratory</A> prepares dissolved constituents in artificial seawater, particulate samples on filter pads, and distribute them twice per year. Each laboratory's results are compared to the expected values and serve as an external check on the accuracy of data. </P><UL><LI>Chesapeake Bay Program Blind Audit Nutrient Results - January and June 1998 (pdf)</LI><LI>Chesapeake Bay Program Blind Audit Nutrient Results - January and June 1999 (pdf)</LI><LI>Chesapeake Bay Program Blind Audit Nutrient Results - January and June 2000 (pdf)</LI></UL><H4>Performance on USGS Nutrient Reference Samples <A NAME="pun"></A></H4><P>Laboratories that analyze non-tidal water samples in the Chesapeake Bay watershed participate in the semi-annual <A HREF="http://bqs.usgs.gov/srs/FS_031_98.html" TARGET="_top">USGS Reference Sample Program</A>. QA staff review the results (Nutrient Reference Sample Results (pdf)) of Chesapeake Bay laboratories and initiate corrective actions if necessary. <BR></P><hr> <P ALIGN="CENTER"><a name="Ecosystem"></a><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">To bookmark this page, please use this URL: <a href="../qasample.htm" target="_top">http://www.chesapeakebay.net/qasample.htm</a></font></P><P ALIGN="CENTER"><font size="2">For more information, contact the Chesapeake Bay Program Office:<br> 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109, Annapolis, MD 21403 / Tel: (800) YOUR-BAY / Fax: (410) 267-5777</font><font size="2">.</font></P><P ALIGN="CENTER"><font size="2"><a href="../termsofuse.htm" target="_top">Terms of Use</a> | <a href="../privacypolicy.htm" target="_top">Privacy Policy</a> | <a href="../comments.htm" target="_top">Contact Us<br> </a></font><font size="2"><a href="http://www.chesapeakebay.net/directions.htm" target="_top"> Directions to the Bay Program Office</a></font><br> <a href="http://www.chesapeakebay.net/cims" target="_top"><img src="../images/cims1.gif" height="19" width="51" border="0" align="left" vspace="10" alt="Chesapeake Information Management System (CIMS) "></a><a href="javascript:print()"><img src="../images/print.gif" width="31" height="38" border="0" alt="Print Current Page" align="right"></a><br> <font size="2">Last modified: 02/12/02</font></P></td><td align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#E7E7D6">   </td></tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#E7E7D6"><img src="../images/endc3.gif" alt="endc3.gif (827 bytes)" WIDTH="8" HEIGHT="14"></td><td align="right" valign="top" bgcolor="#E7E7D6" colspan="2"><img src="../images/endd3.gif" alt="endd3.gif (827 bytes)" WIDTH="8" HEIGHT="14"></td></tr> </table></div>