Quality Assurance Program
The Quality Assurance Program provides independent quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) to all laboratory sections within the Center for Analytical Chemistry to ensure the highest international standards for quality are maintained. The Quality Assurance Program serves as the primary liaison with the auditors for the International Standards Organization to ensure the CAC maintains their ISO-17025 rating.
QA oversees the CAC quality program by by providing "check samples" to ensure the competency and integrity of laboratory staff, equipment and methods. Assisting laboratory staff in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), equipment specifications and method validation and data review. Provides input to Branch Management on good quality assurance and control processes, reviews and approves corrective action plans for deficiencies found during Internal and External Audits and provides Internal Proficiency Evaluation Samples for quality testing.
In addition the Quality Assurance Program serves as the independent QA/QC for the USDA Pesticide Data Programs (PDP) which includes providing proficiency samples, routine QA/QC, SOP and Data Review for CDFA’s PDP laboratory as well as Performance Evaluation Samples for USDA’s PDP Nationwide Program.
Contract Programs
The Quality Assurance Program offers contract services to external laboratories. These services include providing "check samples" to ensure the competency and integrity of laboratory staff, equipment and methods. Current clients include Department of Health Services-Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, the Association of Official Analytical Chemists International (AOACI) and proficiency Performance Evaluation Samples to National and International laboratories.
Please email us at barzin.moradi@cdfa.ca.gov if you are interested in contracting for these services.