(26 - 30 September 1994)

NOTE BY THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

TRANSPARENCY IN INTER-LABORATORY COMPARISON TESTING

1. At the Commission's Third Session, Working Group B requested the Secretariat to sponsor a series of inter laboratory proficiency tests. However, no funding provision was made in the 1994 Budget for these tests. The Secretariat responded by first discussing the issue with Member States that had previous experience in the organisation of exercises of this nature. One Member State agreed to produce and distribute the test samples for up to 25 laboratories on a cost-free basis and a second Member State agreed, also on a cost-free basis, to perform the technical evaluation of the results.

2. As a result of these discussions a Note by the Executive Secretary (PC-V/B/8 of 8 December 1993) was issued. It stated that:

"the purpose of the inter laboratory comparison tests would be to:

(a) enable a laboratory belonging to a Member State to assess its performance against that of laboratories from other Member States; and

(b) aid the development of improved, standard procedures for the analysis of chemical samples related to the implementation of the Convention."

3. The Note also requested Member States interested in participating in the first test to notify the Secretariat by 31 January 1994 of their intention to do so. A fax, giving additional information on the proposed exercise and again requesting details of the laboratories wishing to participate, was sent to all Member States on 1 February 1994.

4. The test conducted in May-June of this year was in principle open to laboratories in all Member States of the Commission. In practice, however, as only a limited number of samples could be provided, it was agreed that only one laboratory per Member State would participate in this first exercise and that the first 25 Member States to notify the Secretariat of their wish to participate would be selected. Laboratories of Member States which could not be included in the first exercise were informed that the Secretariat would endeavour to hold a second round and that they would be given the opportunity to participate in this second round. Eight laboratories are currently in this situation.

5. The primary purpose of these first two inter-laboratory comparison tests is to provide laboratories, many of which are participating in the tests for the first time, the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the procedures involved. The current tests are thus considered to be the preparatory stage for the Proficiency Tests planned to be held during 1995. These Proficiency Tests will be used to establish that laboratories can meet the required standards for designation in accordance with the decision taken by the Commission at its Sixth Session (paragraph 6.4 of PC-VI/22). On that occasion the Commission adopted the criteria for the designation of laboratories by the Organisation, by deciding that

"Such laboratories should:....

(c) regularly participate and perform successfully in inter-laboratory proficiency tests. Analytical laboratories should obtain satisfactory results analysing control samples distributed by the Organisation."

6. The first of these tests was held in the period April - September 1994. The second will commence in early 1995. It is yet to be finally determined how many Proficiency Tests the OPCW will run per year and what action would be taken with laboratories which consistently fail to meet the agreed standard.

7. It is normal practice in laboratory proficiency testing to provide participating laboratories, particularly in the early stages, with some feedback on the evaluation of their results. As this first exercise was seen very much as a familiarisation process, the issue of who should attend this detailed review of each laboratory's performance was discussed with a number of the participating Member States. A range of views were expressed and there was no consensus that attendance at the review meeting should be expanded beyond those laboratories that had taken part in the exercise. The Secretariat therefore felt that it had no alternative but to proceed on the basis that the detailed review should be limited to participating laboratories.

8. However, in a meeting on 23 September to plan the next inter-laboratory comparison test/exercise, which was open to all interested delegations, a general overview of the results of the recently held inter-laboratory comparison test was provided. Also, in response to the view expressed by the Secretariat that all proficiency testing would need to be completely transparent, the meeting agreed that future tests should be conducted on a more open basis and that the performance of those laboratories actively seeking designation should be made available to all Member States. It also recommended that the Expert Group on Inspection Procedures establish a Task Force to develop criteria and methodology for the performance testing of laboratories.

9. It is also the intention of the Executive Secretary to provide a report on the outcome of all inter-laboratory tests, for the benefit of Member States.

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