Lab Services/DW Certification

Certification Process:

• Certification year runs from 1 July to 30 June. Renewal applications are due by 30 May.
• There are two types of certification:
  • Direct Certification, which requires an onsite inspection.
  • Reciprocity, which recognizes certifications granted by other states or agencies.
• A laboratory seeking either type of certification must submit the following:
  • completed application form
  • a copy of the laboratory quality assurance manual (QAM)
  • annual method detection limit (MDL) studies and initial demonstration of capability (IDC) studies for any chemistry methods, if applicable
  • Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for each method being approved
  • the most recent proficiency test (PT) for the methods requested
  • reciprocal onsite audit report (for Chemistry Method Reciprocity Certification)
  • a check, money order or credit card for calculated fees (see below)
• Successful PT sample analysis must be demonstrated prior (within 12 mos.) to the granting of certification.
• MDL and IDC studies are required annually with the submission of the application for Chemistry Certification.
• Laboratory onsite audits are required at least every three years, whether they are performed by ADEC or another certifying agency.
• Certification will be granted and a certificate provided for one fiscal year (1 July thru 30 June) based upon completion of:
  1. application process
  2. verification of the quality assurance program
  3. acceptable analytical performance on the appropriate PE samples (within 12 months)
  4. current method detection limit (MDL) studies and initial demonstration of capability (IDC) studies as required
  5. successful completion of the onsite visit or reciprocity acceptance

Application Timeline:

• New applications can be submitted at anytime.
• Renewal applications and fees are due to the DW Laboratory Certification Office, located at 5251 Dr. MLK Jr. Ave., Anchorage, AK 99507 postmarked no later than May 30th of each fiscal year. The application form can be found at the Quick Links at the right of this web page.
• If a completed application and applicable fees are not submitted by May 30th, the laboratory will not be recertified on July 1st. Processing review of applications received after May 30th will be prioritized based on date of receipt and may take up to 30 days to process depending upon the number of late applications.
• Forms for certification, application amendments, and instructions for completing the forms can be obtained from the Alaska Dept of Environmental Conservation Drinking Water Laboratory Certification Program website.
• All fees are nonrefundable.

Fees Calculations:

• A "Base Fee" will be due at the time of application: $500 for in state Chemistry and $475 for reciprocity laboratories. This fee will only be assessed one time for each fiscal year and will not be required for amendment applications. The Base fee is for the administrative process involved with application review and on-site inspections; it does not assure certification.
• A "Certification Fee" will be calculated for each test or method requested on your application (See list of fees below).
• A laboratory desiring to add one or more tests or methods within an Area of Certification (AOC) to its current certification must submit an amendment application form with appropriate fees; a site visit and PE evaluation must take place as described above.

• Chemistry I: Single Analyte methods: consisting of methods using ion-selective electrode, nephelometry, or spectrophotometery. Analytes include nitrate, nitrite, o-phosphate, alkalinity, pH, odor, color, conductivity, EDTA (calcium), turbidity, hardness, chloride, fluoride, cyanide, sulfate, total dissolved solids, and foaming agents. Also consists of radiochemistry methods, including EPA 900 series and liquid scintillation counting: ($284 per method)
• Chemistry II: Inorganic Methods: consisting of analysis of inorganic chemicals, including trace metals and inorganic non-metals, using ion chromatography, atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma/mass spectroscopy, including analysis for uranium by EPA 200.8, inductively coupled plasma/non-mass spectroscopy, hydride atomic absorption, and cold vapor atomic absorption: ($441 per method)
• Chemistry III: Organic Methods: consisting of organic chemicals analysis by methods using gas chromatography, high pressure liquid chromatography or gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, including EPA 500 series, EPA 1613, SM 6251B, SM 6610, and SM 6651: ($788 per method)
• Chemistry IV: Toxic Chemical Elements methods by TEM ($1,040 per method)

Mail to: