Overview
The quality and reproducibility of analytical methods are of prime importance to manufacturers, regulatory agencies, industries, health-care professionals and consumers.  The reliability of chemical analysis processes and subsequent performance of materials directly relates to a company's bottom line or to the development and implementation of regulations and policies.  This data analysis and information management assignment will provide your company with an opportunity to explore an analytical method for a chemical analysis of your choosing as well as to introduce you to a variety of professional organizations that design, validate, compile, and/or publish analytical methods.
 
 

Assignment
As a company think about chemical classes or specific chemicals you may have read something about that relate to food, drug, health or environmental analysis.  Narrow your focus to a specific chemical and use the on-line resources to find an analytical method targeting your chemical of interest.  You are not looking for a journal article, but an extensively developed and tested method routinely employed for a given analysis.  Once you have identified a method for your chemical of interest, perform the following steps.

STEPS

1. Upload an electronic copy of the method to your company folder on the L:\Classes server or onto Moodle.
2. Use a word processor to create a file containing brief answers to the questions posed below.  If you are unable to answer a question based on the information provided by the method, simply state so.  Use appropriate grammatical structure and scientific terms in your answers.  Make sure you spell check your assignment!
3. Place an electronic copy of your answers in your company folder, L:\Classes server and or Moodle. Also send Upper Management an email indicating that the DAIT is finished.

1. What chemical did you select?  Briefly explain your reasoning for making this selection.
2. Record the URL of the method and the date you accessed it.
3. Who is the principal author of the method?
4. What is the name of the organization that developed the method?  that published the method?
5. When was the method published or last updated?
6. Describe the level of ease or difficulty in finding a suitable analytical method related to your chemical of choice.
7. List the main headings and number of pages in the method.
8. What is the principle objective or scope of the method?
9. Briefly describe the kind of sampling protocol the method requires.
10. Briefly describe the kind(s) of sample preparation the method requires?
11. Briefly describe the kind(s) of instrumention the method requires?
12. What information demonstrates how reliable or robust the method is for your specific compound of interest?
13. After looking back over the answers to the questions above and reading the method, what surprises you the most about the analytical method for your substance of interest?
14. Would you want to perform this method?  Briefly explain why or why not.

On-line Resources
The organizations listed below develop, validate, compile and/or publish analytical methods related to a myriad of chemical systems.  The easiest methods to find on-line are those published by government agencies, specifically the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Others, such as the U.S. Food & Drug Administration or the U.S. Geological Survey are a little more challenging to find, but available none-the-less.  Methods related to prescription drugs and some nutritional supplements are published by the United States Pharmacopeia; however, the college does not have a subscription to this resource.  Other on-line resources are undergoing rapid development, such as the e-CAM site of AOAC International.  Do your best to find a method about a chemical system of interest.  You might need to change your plans if your search does not reveal many hits.

AOAC International (Association of Analytical Communities)
     e-CAM Electronic Compilation of Analytical Methods
ASTM International (Society of Testing and Materials)
ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
USP (United States Pharmacopeia)
U.S. EPA (United States Enivornmental Protection Agency)
    Index to EPA test methods
    Water Science analytical methods
    SW-846 Solid Waste Physical/Chemical Methods
U.S. FDA (United States Food & Drug Administration)
     Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition (Pesticides, Metals, Chemicals and Natural Toxins)
U.S.G.S.  (United States Geological Survey)
     search for "Methods of Analysis"
WAMA (World Anti-Doping Agency)
 

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