Results of an interlaboratory evaluation of an analytical screening method for assessing persistent bioaccumulative toxic chemicals in sediment samples

An inter- and intralaboratory evaluation was performed on a recently developed sediment screening method designed to detect a wide range of persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs). Ten participating laboratories analyzed sediment samples, and their results were evaluated. The analyses demonstrated that laboratories that were better prepared to perform the screening method generally characterized each of the sediment samples in a similar fashion and had 80% average interlaboratory agreement in reporting the presence or absence of chemical classes in the samples. The results of this study suggest that the sediment screening method for PBTs is reasonably reproducible when performed by properly prepared and experienced laboratories.