Introduction
Proficiency Testing Australia (PTA) conducted a survey of companies involved in the PTA Waters (Chemical) series of proficiency testing programs.
The aim of this survey was to obtain customer opinion and feedback concerning the PTA Waters (Chemical) series of proficiency testing programs, which has run since 1992. The survey was conducted in April/May 2015 by PTA’s Quality - Business Development Manager, Frances Watton, using the on-line tool - Survey Monkey. Participants were selected from PTA’s current list of Waters (Chemical) proficiency testing program participants. The contact person for each organisation was emailed information concerning the survey and how to participate on 20 April 2015.
Graphical summaries for each of the questions in the survey are presented in the Results section.
Methods
The survey consisted of ten (10) questions, regarding the following subjects:
- Program quality.
- Suitability of samples.
- Frequency of the program.
- Result submission.
- Content of the summary sheets and final report.
- Timeliness of result notification.
- Participation in other PTA programs.
- Need for new programs.
- Recommending the program to others.
- General Comments.
The majority of the response categories were a ranking from Excellent to Poor. The response “N/A” is an abbreviation for “Not Applicable.”
Results
An email inviting participants to complete the survey was sent to a total of 100 organisations (68 Australian and 32 International). Of these, 30 surveys were completed. This represents a 30% response rate.
Questions and Answers
- Question 1: Based on your past participation, how would you rate the overall quality of the PTA Waters (Chemical) series of proficiency testing programs?
- Question 2: How do you rate the type of samples chosen to meet your needs?
- Question 3: How would you rate the frequency of the programs to meet the needs of your laboratory?
- Question 4: How would you prefer to submit your proficiency testing results?
- Question 5: How would you rate the content of the Waters (Chemical) Summary Sheets and Final Reports in providing you with an evaluation of your testing performance?
- Question 6: How would you rate the timeliness of result notification?
- Question 7: Do you participate in any other PTA proficiency testing programs? Please specify:
- Question 8: Are there any other proficiency testing programs that you would participate in if they became available? Please specify the area of testing required:
- Question 9: Would you recommend participation in the Waters (Chemical) program to others?
- Question 10: Do you have any general comment concerning the PTA Waters (Chemical) series of programs?
- Pesticide residues in food particularly fruits and vegetables
- Low level particulates
- Agricultural Soils
- Saline solutions; Zn, Cd, Pb, Fe, Cu, Tl, Be, Co, Ni, Mn 0.02 to 4 mg/L Potable waters; Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn 0.002 to 4 mg/L
- Gas and methanol
- Any relating to the determination of radionuclides
- Crude oil and lube oil
- Environmental levels, Silica
- Pesticides, Trifluraline, metabolites
- Forensic Identification
- Urea Solutions (AdBlue)
- Crude oil and Lube oil (in-service)
- Fluoride in vegetation or particulate
- PFOS/PFOA and 6:2 FTS
- Soils
