Requirements for participation

Only laboratories that have the personnel and equipment required for the EQAT proficiency test phytoplankton can participate in our scheme. Laboratories that subcontract our services to third parties are not entitled to participate in the proficiency test. When registering, each participating laboratory must name a member of staff who has been commissioned to carry out the analyses. The certificate is issued for this employee. Each participant in the EQAT scheme requires its own registration/application.

Costs

The participation fee for all participants is currently € 1,070.00 plus 19% VAT (DE). After registration via the web portal www.planktonforum.eu, invoices (in pdf format) will be sent by e-mail. The e-mail address must be given at the time of registration. Participants from within the EU but outside Germany will receive a net invoice if they provide their VAT ID. Payment of the participation fee is only possible by bank transfer. Any bank charges incurred are not included in the participation fee and are to be borne by the participant. Payments must be received on our EQAT account by the respective specified date. Registered participants who have not made full payment by this date will be excluded from participation.

A later payment is not possible, because at this time the production of the reference counting chamber and the natural sample will be started. There will be no refund of fees already paid in case of non-participation.

The fees include the following services:

• Production of the reference counting chamber

• Sampling from natural waters and/or selection of suitable test materials from algal strain collections and their cultivation

• Preparation of the natural samples

• Homogeneity tests (according to DIN ISO 13528:2015)

• Stability tests during the duration of the inter-laboratory comparison (according to DIN ISO 13528:2015)

• Production of the video clips, sampling, selection of suitable species

• Taxonomic reconciliation including assurance from specialists

• Packaging and shipping of the samples

• Provision of the video clips as download from our website

• Provision of online forms/software tool for entering the results

• Evaluation of the results according to DIN 38402 – 45:2014 / DIN ISO 13528:2015

• Preparation of participation certificates and result sheets

• Final report as download

Evaluation

The evaluation of the data gathered in component 1 and 2 is based on robust statistical procedures using Zu scores according to DIN 38402 – 45:2014 and DIN ISO 13528:2015, respectively. To pass a certain task a Zu-score < |2| has to be reached. The evaluation of the taxonomic results of component 3 is done qualitatively. In this case, the evaluation is based on the LAWA-AQS data sheet A3, which requires a success rate of at least 80% for all parameters. If the determination is correct up to the required determination level, 1 full point is awarded. If the determination is not correct, further points are awarded proportionally according to the correct determination of the next lower taxonomic categories, following Schilling et al. (2006, Accred. Qual. Assur. 11: 422-429; see table below).

Evaluation scheme for component 3 (taxonomy)