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InternalAuditSOP 012413
InternalAuditSOP 012413
information
Approved by:
Technical Director
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Revision History
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Description of Change
9/5/07
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01/13/13
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Annual Review (The review is to be documented if the document has not been revised in
the past 12 months)
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Training Record
The following laboratory staff have read and agree to follow the latest version of the SOP.
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Table of Contents
1. Purpose...........................................................................................................................5
2. Scope...............................................................................................................................5
3. Responsibilities...............................................................................................................5
4. Procedure........................................................................................................................6
5. Related Documentation and References......................................................................8
6. Definitions.......................................................................................................................8
APPENDIX A.....................................................................................................................9
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1. Purpose
To ensure that the procedures in the quality manual, related to quality systems, and the
labs method manual, related to testing activities, are being followed.
To determine the effectiveness of the labs procedures in controlling the quality of data
reported
To identify, correct, and implement any changes needed in any of the quality system
and testing activities procedures found to be deficient
To ensure all deficiencies in the labs quality system and testing activities are
documented though its corrective action process
2. Scope
The internal audit SOP and associated checklist is used to audit, on an annual basis, the
labs quality system, policies and procedures, work instructions, analytical records, and
reports. In addition, the lab audits its testing activities (each method-technology) on an
annual basis.
3. Responsibilities
Quality Assurance (QA) Manager or QA Officer (QAO):
is knowledgeable and trained in quality system requirements, including internal
audits
initiates all internal audits and ensures they are conducted in an efficient and timely
manner
delegates responsible, trained staff, if applicable, to carry out specific audits of
testing activities
notifies laboratory management , including the technical director, of any
deficiencies (findings) in the quality system or testing activities
documents and monitors corrective actions
documents and tracks staff who have completed auditor training
Auditor:
has completed auditor training
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4. Procedure
4.1 The Audit Team
The Quality Assurance Manager or QA Officer (QAO) selects trained staff, if applicable, to
perform the audits defined in this procedure. If trained staff is limited, the QAO and/or
technical director may perform the audits. If trained staff is not limited, the QAO will
designate one of the trained staff to serve as the lead auditor. When ever possible, auditors
are selected from a function not directly involved in the audit.
4.2 Training
Auditors are trained in auditing techniques. Training consists of reading and
understanding this procedure and reference material related to internal auditing, and where
possible, shadowing a trained auditor or completing a formal, external training course. The
auditors are also provided with the applicable auditing guidelines and checklists. Both
quality system and method-specific checklists are to be provided to the auditor.
Evidence of the training includes a signature that the auditor has read and understands this
procedure (see page 3). It may also include documentation of any external seminars or
course work related to quality system auditing. All training records are to be kept for a
minimum of five years.
4.3 Audit Plan
The entire quality system, including testing activities, is audited on an annual basis. The
maximum interval between audits is twelve months. The frequency may be adjusted for
new procedures or deficiencies that resulted from complaints.
The QAO creates the audit schedule. The audit schedule defines the following:
timeframe of the audit
scope of audit
elements and/ or areas to be audited
4.4 Performing the Audit
The QAO notifies the supervisors of the areas to be audited at least a month in advance.
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The QAO briefs the auditors on the audit procedures and the areas to be audited. The
auditors are to prepare prior to the audit by familiarizing themselves with the audit
procedures.
During the audit, auditors use applicable checklists. They record all findings on the
checklists. The findings are discussed with the staff responsible for performing the function
that was found to be deficient.
4.5 Deficiency Report and Corrective Action Response
A deficiency report is generated by the auditor for each legitimate finding. The QAO
makes the final decision as to whether the finding is legitimate if it can not be resolved
between the auditor and the staff audited. The QAO presents the final report to the
audited staff, as well as, laboratory management, including the technical director.
The audited staff responds to the deficiency report in a manner prescribed by the labs
corrective action procedures, which are included in the Quality Manual. The corrective
action must be completed within 90 days of the date of the finding.
When deficiencies cast doubt on the correctness or validity of the calibration or test results
reported, the lab needs to immediately notify its clients of the situation. A record of the
client notification must be maintained.
4.6 Closing an Audit
Audit findings are closed upon completion of an effective corrective action for each of the
findings. All documents related to the audit, including checklists, deficiency reports,
corrective action responses, are maintained by the QAO.
4.7 Review and Evaluation
The QAO verifies successful implementation of the corrective action by observing
objective evidence supplied by the audited staff as part of the corrective action process.
Follow-up is performed by the QAO, or designated staff, as part of the next scheduled
audit to verify the effectiveness of the corrective actions that were implemented. IN
addition, the QAO reviews the audit report with laboratory management, including the
technical director, as part of the labs annual management review.
5. Related Documentation and References
Audit Plan
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APPENDIX A
TOPIC
Organization & Management
1.) Does the laboratory have a policy to ensure its personnel are
free from any commercial, financial and other undue pressures,
which might adversely affect the quality of the work?
2.) Does the laboratory specify and document the responsibility,
authority, and interrelation of all personnel who manage,
perform or verify work affecting the quality of calibrations and
tests in job descriptions for all positions.
3.) Does the laboratory have documented certifications that
personnel performing all tests for which the laboratory is
accredited have the appropriate educational and/or technical
backgrounds?
4.) Does the laboratory nominate deputies in the case of absence
of the technical director or QA officer?
5.) Does the laboratory have documented policies and
procedures to ensure the protection of clients' confidential
information and proprietary rights?
Quality System
1.) Is the quality documentation available to, understood by, and
implemented by all laboratory personnel?
2.) Does the quality manual and related quality documentation
include the objectives and commitments by top management?
N/A
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Comments
26.) Are all audits and review findings and any corrective actions
that arise from them documented?
27.) Does the laboratory management ensure that corrective
actions are discharged within the agreed time frame?
28.) Does the laboratory implement checks to monitor the
quality of laboratory results using:
_a__ Internal quality control procedures (using statistical
techniques whenever possible);
_b__ Participation in PT or other interlaboratory comparisons;
_c__ Reference material and/or in-house quality control using
secondary reference materials;
_d__ Replicate testing;
_e__ Re-testing of retained samples; and/or
_f__ Correlation of results for different parameters of a sample.
29.) Does the laboratory have general procedures to be followed
when there are departures from documented policies,
procedures, and QC have occurred?
30.) Do the procedures to be followed when there is a departure
from documented policies, procedures, and QC include but not
limited to:
a___ Identify the individuals responsible for assessing each QC
data type;
b___ Identify the individuals responsible for initiating and/or
recommending corrective actions;
c___ Define how the analyst should treat the data set if the
associated QC measurements are unacceptable;
d___ Specify how out-of-control situations and subsequent
corrective actions are to be documented; and
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c. ____
7.) Is the positive control test tested with a sample test batch?
8.) Are at least 5% of the suspected positive samples analyzed in
duplicate?
9.) In laboratories with more than one analyst performs the
testing does each analyst make parallel analyses on at least one
positive sample per month?
10.) Are the calculations, data reduction and statistical
interpretations specified by each method followed?
11.) Where the method specifies colony counts, such as
membrane filter or colony counting, is the ability of individual
analysts to count colonies verified at least once per month, by
having two or more analysts count colonies from the same
plate?
12.) In order to demonstrate traceability and selectivity, does the
laboratory use reference cultures of microorganisms obtained
from a recognized national collection or an organization
recognized by the assessor body?
13.) Are the graduations of the temperature measuring devices
appropriate for the required accuracy of measurement?
14.) Are records maintained on all laboratory reagent water
monitoring activities as below when dilution water and/or media
are prepared in house:
a_ Residual Chlorine < 1.0 mg/L.
b_ Conductivity < 2.0 umho/cm at 25 degrees Celsius
c_ Heterotrophic Plate Count < 1000 cfu per mL.
d_ Bacteriological ratio 0.8 3.0.
e_ Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn each < 0.05 mg/L, collectively
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