Mixed Analyte Performance Evaluation Program (MAPEP)

DOE Analytical Services Program (ASP)

MAPEP HISTORY

The MAPEP serves as a valuable quality assurance tool for the DOE and is currently the only DOE performance evaluation program providing quality assurance oversight for environmental analytical services across the DOE Complex. It is also the only proficiency testing program that includes radiological, stable inorganic, and organic constituents (i.e., mixed analytes) in the same single-blind sample for analytical performance evaluation. The samples use various matrices including soils, water, vegetation, and air filters. It is important to note that the MAPEP samples are not a mixed waste.

MAPEP BENEFITS

• Over one hundred domestic analytical laboratories that directly or indirectly support the Departments' mission or interests participate in the MAPEP. All matrices are distributed twice per year (i.e., January and July), with performance data available on the MAPEP web site. With the Department opening up domestic laboratory participation in the MAPEP based upon public interest to increase laboratory capabilities in case of an National emergency event, the number of laboratories involved in the MAPEP is expected to increase in the future.
• MAPEP supports international laboratory participation. The MAPEP provides proficiency testing for the Radiation Measurements Cross Calibration Project in the Middle East. This project is facilitated by the Sandia National Laboratories in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Participants include Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Morocco, Lebanon, Tunisia, Turkey and others as part of establishing quality assurance and cross calibration for radiological measurements. Through Departmental agreements for nuclear nonproliferation and the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the nations of Brazil, the Netherlands, Bolivia, New Zealand, Ecuador, Spain and others are involved in MAPEP proficiency testing and evaluation. Cooperative Air Monitoring is also conducted with Canada and the United Kingdom. International laboratory participation is expected to grow in the future and currently includes nearly thirty laboratories.

For further information on MAPEP, please visit http://www.inl.gov/resl/mapep/, or contact

Guy Marlette
U.S. Department of Energy, Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory
MAPEP Coordinator
(208) 526-2532