The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) mission is to provide reliable and impartial scientific information to understand Earth, minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters, and manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources. Data collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination are central to everything the USGS does. Among other activities, the USGS operates some 250 laboratories across the country to analyze physical and biological samples, including water, sediment, rock, plants, invertebrates, fish, and wildlife. The data generated in the laboratories help answer pressing scientific and societal questions or support regulation, resource management, or commercial applications. At the request of the USGS, this study reviews a representative sample of USGS laboratories to examine quality management systems and other approaches for assuring the quality of laboratory results and recommends best practices and procedures for USGS laboratories.

Contents

• The National Academies of SCIENCES • ENGINEERING • MEDICINE
• COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'S LABORATORIES
• BOARD ON EARTH SCIENCES AND RESOURCES
• Acknowledgments
• Summary
  • USGS LABORATORIES
  • APPROACHES FOR IMPROVING LABORATORY DATA QUALITY
  • RECOMMENDATIONS
• 1. Introduction
  • COMMITTEE TASKS AND APPROACH
  • U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
  • ORGANIZATION OF THIS REPORT
• 2. Improving Data Quality and Integrity
  • INTRODUCTION TO QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAMS
  • REASONS FOR IMPLEMENTING QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAMS
  • EVIDENCE THAT QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAMS SUPPORT DATA QUALITY
  • APPROACHES FOR DESIGNING LABORATORY DATA QUALITY PROGRAMS
  • MAINTAINING DATA QUALITY PROGRAMS
  • SUMMARY AND ANSWER TO TASK 4
• 3. USGS Laboratories
  • OVERVIEW OF USGS LABORATORIES
  • INSIGHTS FROM VISITS TO USGS LABORATORIES
  • SUMMARY AND ANSWERS TO TASKS 1, 2, AND 3
• 4. Experiences with Quality Management Systems
  • PERSPECTIVES ON QMS FROM SELECTED FEDERAL AGENCIES, GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS, AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
  • SUMMARY AND ANSWER TO TASK 2
• 5. Recommendations and Conclusions
  • BEST PRACTICES
  • RESOURCES
  • TIMELINE
  • CONCLUDING REMARKS
• References
• Appendixes
  • Biographical Sketches of Committee Members

Suggested citation:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. http://doi.org/10.17226/25524.

Digital Object Identifier: http://doi.org/10.17226/25524

Additional copies of this publication are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313; http://www.nap.edu.

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