Proficiency Tests and Programs

The laboratory Quality Assurance Program is consistent with the high standards of the medical laboratory industry and follows the guidelines established by the Department of Health and Human Services and College of American Pathologists. Quality assurance begins with the proper procedural documentation of every aspect of the laboratory service performed, which includes specimen collection, accessioning, instrument maintenance, method calibration, data evaluation/review and results reporting.

In addition to the above in-house procedures, Pacific Toxicology participates in external Proficiency Testing Programs. Our performance in these external programs provides the extra dimension of intra- laboratory data comparison.

Proficiency Programs We Participate In

College of American Pathologists (CAP)

• Blood Lead
• Metals in Urine (Cr, Cu, Se, Zn)
• Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
• Chemistry, Hematology, Urinalysis



•     Frequency: 3 times a year.  Participant since 1989.



• Urine Toxicology



•     Frequency: 3 times a year.  Participant since 2003.



• Urine Drug Confirmation



•     Frequency: 4 times a year.  Participant since 2003.



• Whole Blood Alcohol and Volatiles



•     Frequency: 3 times a year.  Participant since 2003.



• Cadmium Exposure
  (CD Blood, CD Urine, Beta 2 Microglobulin, Creatinine Correction)



•     Frequency: 6 times a year.  Participant since 1996.

Quebec Interlaboratory Comparison Program (PCI)

• Total Arsenic and Speciated Arsenic in urine
• Chromium in urine
• Mercury in urine and blood



•     Frequency: 3 times a year.  Participant since 1991.

Quebec ICP-MS Program

• In urine: Ag, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Tl, Zn.
• In blood: As, Ag, Cd, Co, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Tl.
• In serum: As, Cd, Pb.



•     Frequency: 3 times a year.  Participant since 1996.

Finland – FIOH Quality Assurance Program for Organic Solvent Metabolites

• Mandelic Acid
• Methylhippuric Acid
• Phenol
• Trichloroacetic Acid
• Methylenedianiline
• Naphthol
• Creatinine in urine
• Specific Gravity



•     Frequency: 3 times a year.  Participant since 1989.

Germany – German Society for Occupational Medicine and Environmental Medicine

• Aromatic solvents in blood – Benzene, Toluene, Xylenes, Ethylbenzene.
• Chlorinated solvents in blood – Trichloroethylene, Tetrachloroethylene.
• Solvent metabolites in urine – Hippuric Acid, Methylhippuric Acid, Mandelic Acid,
  Phenol, O-cresol, Trichloroacitic Acid, Methylenedianiline, t,t-muconic acid
• OPMETS (organic pestidcide metabolites – DMP, DMTP, DMDTP, DEP, DETP, DEDTP.
• Ketones (Methylethylketone) in urine
• Chlorinated hydrocarbons in serum – DDT, DDE, Hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorocyclohexane



•     Frequency: 2 times a year.  Participant since 1995.

State Proficiency Testing Programs

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Blood Lead
Zinc Protoporphyrins

    Frequency: 3 times a year.   Participant since 1995.

New York State Proficiency

Blood Lead
Zinc Protoporphyrins
Trace Elements (Blood and Urine)
Therapeutic Substance Monitoring
Chemistry, Hematology, Tumor Marker, Urinalysis

    Frequency: 3 times a year.   Participant since 1990.