ENHANCED QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM

Overview

Membership in the ALTA Enhanced Quality Assurance (EQA) Program reflects the commitment to continuous quality assessment and improvement by the soil laboratory community.  The EQA-P laboratories are working collaboratively to enhance the reliability and consistency of testing results for our clients despite the competitive landscape.  We believe that the potential to positively affect nutrient management lies in the unsampled acres and in trusting the reliability of laboratory results amongst the EQA membership.  A true double-blind submission process allows for an unbiased, authentic representation of performance throughout the year so that labs may openly evaluate and deliberate on their analysis methods. 

Program Description

This program offers an opportunity for participating Soil Laboratories to collaborate and commit to enhancing the reliability and consistency of testing results for our clients.  Results from samples submitted through a double-blind process are reviewed by all participating members to assess performance and make adjustments necessary to optimize laboratory quality assurance.

Fertilizer and soil amendments are prescribed according to recommendations developed by university research and are based on the results of soil samples tested by labs certified to operate in the states these labs serve.  The integrity of nutrient management is based on the accurate analysis of soil pH, buffer pH, phosphorus and potassium that are used to generate these recommendations.

In the interest of encouraging optimal nutrient management by increased soil testing, a joint committee has created the Enhanced Quality Assurance Program to evaluate and document the performance of these tests by the labs:

• The program consists of standard reference soil samples that are submitted to the laboratories as routine grower samples.
• This is called a ‘double blind’ program whereby laboratory participants will not know when these samples arrive nor what are the expected values when they are analyzed.
• Soil samples will be submitted to participating labs once during the spring season and twice during the fall season and used to assess the overall performance of each laboratory over the course of the soil testing year.
• Laboratory results will be compiled, their performance evaluated, and results anonymously reviewed.
• Participating laboratories have committed to collaborating on any results and improvements to testing that may be needed.
• The Agricultural Laboratory Testing Association (ALTA) is administering the program, leading meetings to evaluate the results, and consulting with the labs on corrective actions.
• Questions on the program should be referred to: Dr. Robert Miller Rmiller@soiltesting.us or Robert.miller@cts-interlab.com

How to Join 

The EQA Program is a pilot initiative endorsed by IOWA-NREC and the Agricultural Laboratory Testing Association (ALTA).  To participate, labs must be ALTA members. 

For more information or to register, contact ALTA at info@alta.ag.