Quality Control Samples (Blanks, Duplicates, Spikes)
Built-in checks run alongside every batch that confirm the method is performing as expected.
Method blanks (reagent water carried through the full test procedure) confirm no contamination is being introduced by the lab's own reagents or equipment.
Duplicate samples (the same sample analyzed twice) confirm method precision; a result outside the lab's established acceptance range flags a problem before results are reported.
Matrix spike samples (a known concentration added to an actual sample) confirm the method works correctly in that specific sample's matrix, catching interference effects a blank or duplicate wouldn't reveal.
A documented QC acceptance criteria for each parameter, reviewed before results are released, is what separates a defensible lab program from one that's simply running tests without verifying they're working.
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