Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Asbestos Fiber Analysis LAP
The image shows a 1866 Standard Heated Crocidolite to 498 degrees C between 1866 Standard Amosite in 1.68 Crossed Polars with Red Plate 530 nm (z).
The NVLAP Asbestos Fiber Analysis program provides assurance that laboratories are competent to analyze asbestos samples using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and/or transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), enacted in 1986, requires that laboratories that analyze asbestos samples taken from public, or private, elementary or secondary schools, to be accredited by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP).
Requirements Documents
Overall Program:
- NIST Handbook 150:2020, update 1, NVLAP Procedures and General Requirements
- Lab Bulletin LB-140-2021: Update to NVLAP accreditation documents for Dosimetry and Asbestos laboratories
Bulk (PLM):
- NIST Handbook 150-3:2006, NVLAP Bulk Asbestos Analysis
- NVLAP Lab Bulletin LB-118-2020
- NVLAP Lab Bulletin LB-93-2016
- NVLAP Lab Bulletin LB-68-2012
Airborne (TEM):
- NIST Handbook 150-13:2006, NVLAP Airborne Asbestos Analysis
- NVLAP Lab Bulletin LB-118-2020
- NVLAP Lab Bulletin LB-69-2012
Proficiency Testing Requirements
The Asbestos Fiber Analysis LAP requires laboratory participation in a NVLAP-mandated proficiency testing program provided by RTI International (RTI), https://www.rti.org/service-capability/proficiency-testing-and-reference-materials. The requirements for laboratory participation in NVLAP-mandated proficiency testing are given in NIST Handbooks 150-3 and 150-13. Proficiency testing is conducted biannually (twice a year) for PLM and annually (once a year) for TEM testing laboratories. For applicant labs, proficiency testing must be completed before the initial assessment.
The proficiency testing contacts at RTI are J. Todd Ennis (jte [at] rti.org (jte[at]rti[dot]org)) for PLM and Sara Harrison (seharrison [at] rti.org (seharrison[at]rti[dot]org)) for TEM.
References and Information
Bulk (PLM):
- U.S. EPA Interim Method for the Determination of Asbestos in Bulk Insulation Samples (EPA 600-M4-82-020)
- U.S. EPA Method for the Determination of Asbestos in Bulk Building Materials (EPA 600-R-93-116), 1993
- NISTIR 5951: Guide for Quality Control on the Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Bulk Asbestos Samples: Version 1 (March 1997)
- Federal Register Notice, August 1, 1994: Advisory Regarding Availability of an Improved Asbestos Bulk Sample Analysis Test Method; Supplementary Information on Bulk Sample Collection and Analysis
- Federal Register Notice, January 5, 1994: Asbestos NESHAP Clarification Regarding Analysis of Multi-layered Systems
- EPA Rounding Reported Values (01/31/2007)
- Federal Register/Vol. 60, No. 243/Tuesday, December 19, 1995 / Rules and Regulations 65243: Asbestos NESHAP Clarification Regarding Analysis of Multi-Layered Systems
- NIST Technical Note 1297, 1994 Edition, Guidelines for Evaluating and Expressing Uncertainty of NIST Measurement Results
Airborne (TEM):
- U.S. EPA Interim Transmission Electron Microscopy Analytical Methods – Mandatory and Nonmandatory – and Mandatory Section to Determine Completion of Response Actions, Appendix A to Subpart E, 40 CFR 763, October 30, 1987
- U.S. EPA Guidelines for Conducting AHERA TEM Clearance Test to Determine Completion of an Asbestos Abatement Project (EPA 560/5-89-001, May 1989)
Related Links:
Contacts
-
(301) 975-4023
-
(301) 975-3024