What quality controls are used in occupational hygiene labs?

Quality control in occupational hygiene labs is all about making sure results are accurate and consistent. There’s quite a bit going on behind the scenes to support that.

Firstly, equipment is regularly calibrated—basically checked and adjusted to ensure it’s measuring correctly. Analysts also follow standardised methods, so tests are carried out the same way every time.

Labs often use blanks and duplicates as part of their checks. A blank sample contains no contaminant and helps confirm there’s no background interference. A duplicate is a repeat of the same sample to verify consistency.

There’s also internal auditing and participation in external proficiency schemes. That means the lab is tested against others to confirm it’s producing reliable results.

It might sound a bit procedural, but these controls are what make the data trustworthy. Without them, even small errors could lead to misleading conclusions.