Call for participants to join new Stack Emissions Proficiency Testing Scheme (STACKS) and gain independent assessment of measurement quality

Contact customerservices@lgcpt.com

LGC Standards, a division of LGC and a global leader in proficiency testing services to the food, pharmaceutical, beverages, and environmental sectors, is pleased to announce the launch of its new proficiency testing scheme – STACKS - for the determination of pollutants in stacks solutions

The scheme has been designed for periodic manual measurement. EU legislation (Directive 96/61/EC and its codified version 2008/1/EC) dictates that the emissions from stationary stacks such as chimney stacks are monitored. Participation in a proficiency testing scheme for stack emission monitoring is a requirement of the UK Environment Agency’s Monitoring Certification Scheme (MCERTS).

Elizabeth Jordain, General Manager, LGC Standards said: "The launch of STACKS reflects the importance we place on regularly reviewing relevant legislation and the needs of our customers. STACKS is also a logical extension to LGC Standards' broad range of PT schemes offered to environmental analysis laboratories. Furthermore, the scheme will support UKAS accredited laboratories who will be required to carry out proficiency testing where stack solutions testing is included in their scope of accreditation.”

Participating in STACKS allows results to be compared with industry colleagues in complete confidence. It may also be used in method and instrument evaluation and it can demonstrate reliability of analytical performance to customers and regulators.

The scheme runs from September to August with quarterly distribution of material to laboratories. The test materials used in the scheme will reflect the types of materials generally encountered by participants therefore the parameters available for testing include mercury; heavy metals; sulphur dioxide (as sulphate); hydrogen fluoride; HCL (hydrogen chloride and hydrochloric acid) and ammonia. The preparation and analysis of the test parameters are all based on the various EN Standards and are continually reviewed to ensure they meet current laboratory testing and regulatory requirements.

For further information please contact LGC Standards Proficiency Testing via e-mail customerservices@lgcpt.com or telephone +44 (0)161 762 2500 or fax +44 (0)161 762 2501.

Notes to Editors

About LGC Standards

LGC Standards is a division of LGC dedicated to those products and services specifically able to champion measurement and quality control within the laboratory. LGC Standards (trading as LGC Promochem until November 2007) supplies over 20,000 reference materials, pharmaceutical impurity reference standards, proficiency testing and training in analytical quality. LGC Standards is headquartered in Teddington, Middlesex, UK. Its global centre for excellence in proficiency testing is located in Bury (Greater Manchester). LGC Standards has offices in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK and representatives in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Romania and the US.

About LGC

LGC is an international science-based company and market leader in analytical, forensic and diagnostic services and reference standards. A progressive and innovative enterprise, LGC operates in socially responsible fields underpinning the safety, health and security of the public and the regulation of industry, for UK government departments and blue chip clients.

LGC operates internationally through four divisions - LGC Forensics, Life & Food Sciences, LGC Standards and Research & Technology, which includes specialist laboratories delivering contracts under the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and supporting LGC's designated role as the UK's National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalysis.

Our methodology is extensively accredited to the international standard ISO 17025. With headquarters in Teddington, South West London, the LGC Group employs over 1200 staff in 21 laboratories and centres across Europe and in India. Privatised in 1996 and now majority-owned by funds managed by LGV Capital, LGC was founded over 150 years ago as the Laboratory of the Government Chemist - a statutory function maintained by LGC today.