TestQual's proficiency testing schemes are a useful and necessary tool that testing laboratories use to demonstrate their competence and quality assurance of their analysis. With the participation of succesive rounds, laboratories are able to track their performance and assure their clients their commitment to the continous improvement and scaning of possible errors.

About the analytes and interest

Chlorate is no longer accepted as a pesticide but can still be found in fruit and vegetables due its use during food processing and disinfecting food. The effects for chronic exposure to chlorate leads to an inhibition of iodine uptake in humans and can result in the formation of methaemoglobin, which is a non functional oxygen carrier. Therefore its control is critical to testing laboratories's clients.

The found levels of perchlorate in fruit and vegetables can be a result of the use natural fertilizers, contaminated irrigation water and disinfected water with chlorainated subtances.The consequences of a continous exposure to Perchlorate can cause an iodine deficiency. Therefore is necessary to mantain a strict control of perchlorate levels in food.

By 31 December 2019 there could be an update to amend the QAC's MRL based on newer residue data, meaning that this PT can be key to assure the quality of your analysis and show to your clients the commitment and anticipation of any possible necesity or change that can arise.

This PT will be key to your quality assurance for these analytes and to show your clients your commmitment and anticipation to any possible need they might have due to these changes.

Therefore is of great importance to be able to offer to your clients the security and trust that your results are always reliable and contrasted through an exhaustive quality control and continuous participation in TestQual's proficiency tests.

Summary of the proficiency test

All the information about this PT can be found in the protocol, which can be donwloaded from a link located below, in this page.

This proficiency test will consist in a single round, two samples will be distributed at the same time with both the PT item with approximately 200g and a blank item. The target standard desviation for all the analytes is 25%.

For this PT the parameters to be analysed are: 

And the detection and quantification of a certain number of the following QAC:

Is NOT mandatory to analyze all the compounds contemplated for this PT to participate. The participation fee will remain the same independtly of the number of parameters analyzed.

TestQual keeps confidential the QAC chosen for this PT and the concentration for both Chlorate+Perchlorate and QAC, the levels of concentration that can be expected are residues.

PT Scheduled milestones

*These dates are orientative and always will have to be checked in the protocol of the PT and the news in our webpage.

How to participate

Those laboratories that want to participate and are not registered on our website can register through this link: START REGISTRATION

If your laboratory is already registered on our website you can start your applciation by clicking the link situated at the bottom of this page, in APPLICATION FORM, once you have logged in you will have to enter your Limit of Quantification (LOQ) for the parameters that have to be studied. The analytes with LOQ equal to NA (NOT ANALYSED) will NOT appear in the website when submiting the results of the PT.

Once the application has been sent, as soon as possible you will receive an email with your laboratory code for the participation in the PT.

Contact data

If you want to get a quote or if we can help you somehow you can contact us by: