CAP

The publication of the Test Methods Manual for the Examination of Composting and Compost (TMECC), benchmark compost methods now exist for the testing lab industry. To ensure accurate and precise analysis and meet ISO 9001 requirements, a laboratory proficiency program is needed to provide testing labs with an external means of quality control evaluate laboratory performance, and evaluate inter-lab method performance.

The CAP program

CAP is a laboratory quality assurance program which is conducted as tri-annual exchanges of three [3] compost materials, each submitted in blind triplicate (3 × 3 × 3 = 27) for each of two testing tiers. Tier I. Inorganic; and Tier II. Inorganic plus Biological. Refer to Compost Analysis Proficiency Program Test Parameters(link to Test Methods #4). With the completion of each exchange, participating laboratories will be provided a statistical report with data as to their individual performance on each analysis. Statistical results of each exchange (Link to #2) and list of participating laboratories (link to #3) are accessible as Acrobat Reader pdf files. 

Work Plan

 The project will include the collection of up to nine [9] reference compost materials from across the United States, corresponding to the diversity of feed stocks and composting technologies employed by Participating STA Facilities.

Tier I
Each Tier I reference sample material is air dried, pulverized to pass a 1.0-mm screed and blended in a Patterson-Kelley V shell blender. Samples are packaged in 600 gram HDPE bottles. Three [3] air dry samples are submitted in blind triplicate [3] to the participating laboratories using regular mail.

Tier II (Required for STA labs)
Each Tier II reference sample represents a biologically active, moist compost. Individual samples are packaged in 600 gram HDPE bottles. quantities at wet ice temperature using chemical ice packs. Three [3] as-received moist samples are submitted in blind triplicate [3] to the participating laboratories using overnight express delivery. The STA Chain of Custody Form is used to track sample condition, timeliness of delivery and laboratory sample preparation. All USCC Seal of Testing Assurance Laboratories (STA) are required to enroll in the Tier II CAP Program. Each lab receives advance notice of sample delivery; notification is made by E-mail and fax one week prior to sample shipment. Confirmation of scheduling with CAP Project Leader is required.

Lab Proficiency Evaluation
Selected test methods from TMECC will be utilized in the CAP program. Results for each of the three compost sample exchanges will be statistically analyzed using median and MAD (median absolute deviation statistics), and measures of intra-laboratory repeatability and inter-laboratory reproducibility will be calculated. Laboratories providing data exceeding a 90% confidence interval of the median of each analysis parameter will be flagged as an outlier. Within 30 days of completion of an exchange, labs will be receive a report on proficiency. Project budget is based upon the enrolment of laboratories in the Tier I program, and laboratories enrolled in the Tier II program. The CAP program was first implemented in 2001.

CAP Exchange Report

2001 CAP Exchange Report

• Compost Analysis Proficiency Test Report [2001 Tier I & Tier II, ~0.5 MB] (pdf file: 2001CAPReport.pdf)

1999/2000 CAP Summaries

• The Proficiency of Laboratory Compost Analysis [1999 / 2000] (pdf file: The_Proficiency_of_Laboratory_Compost_Analysis.pdf)
• CAP Report Interpretation Guide (pdf file: CAP_report_interpretation_guide.pdf)

Preliminary CAP Program Reports

• Third Exchange [1999 / 2000] [Please refer to test methods for 2002 reporting units of measure] (pdf file cap-99-3c)
• Second Exchange [1999 / 2000] (pdf file cap-99-2b
• First Exchange [1999 / 2000] (pdf file-cap-99-1a)

CAP Summaries and Program Reports are provided in pdf v.4 format. Please download and use the most current version of Acrobat Reader. Go to the Adobe site to download free Acrobat Reader.

Known Browser Problems: If your browser cannot open pdf files, right-click the hyperlink text of interest and save the target file to your hard drive. Then open the downloaded pdf file using Acrobat Reader.

CAP Participating Laboratories

• The underlined laboratory names are links to that labs web site.
• How to sign up for Tier I or Tier II sample exchanges. [form]
• Where to send payment when enrolling in the CAP program [form]
• How to sign up for Tier I or Tier II sample exchanges.
• Where to send payment when enrolling in a CAP program.

2004 Tier II CAP Participants

A&L Canada Laboratories
ROBERT J. DEAKIN
2136 Jetstream Road
London, ON N5V 3P5 CANADA
Phone: 519-457-2575
Fax: 519-457-2664
Email: rdeakin@alcanada.com

A&L Great Lakes Labs
LOIS PARKER
3505 Conestoga Drive
Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Phone: 260-483-4759
Fax: 260-483-5274
Email: lparker@algreatlakes.com

Ag Analytical Services Lab
ANN WOLF
Penn State University
Tower Road University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-0841
Fax: 814-863-4540
Email: amw2@psu.edu

Colroado Analytical Lab
SHANE NIELSEN
240 South Main Street
Brighton, CO 80601
Phone: 303-659-2313
Fax: 303-659-2315
Email: shanenielson@wideopenwest.com

Gulf Coast Waste Dispoal Authority
HENRY CHIU
10800 Bay Area Boulevard
Pasadena, TX 77507
Phone: 281-474-4452 (103)
Fax: 281-474-2568
Email: hchiu@gcwda.com

Soil Control Lab
FRANK SHIELDS
42 Hangar Way
Watsonville, CA 95076
Phone: 831-724-5422
Fax: 831-724-3188
Email: frank@controllabs.com

Woods End Research Laboratory, Inc.
WILL BRINTON
20 Old Rome Road
Mt. Vernon, ME 04352
Phone: 207-293-2457
Fax: 207-293-2488
Email: info@woodsend.org

2004 Tier I CAP Participants

Norwest Labs
SHIRLEY LUTWICK
Bay 9 - 2712 37 Avenue NE
Calgary, AB T1J 4H1 CANADA
Email: shirley.lutwick@norwestlabs.com

A&L Western Ag Labs
ROBERT BUTTERFIELD / JITENDRA LAL
1311 Woodland Avenue #1
Modesto, CA 95351
Phone: 209-529-4080
Fax: 209-529-4736
Email: rbutterf@al-labs-west.com

Dellavalle Laboratory Inc.
NAT DELLAVALLE
1910 W Mckinley #110
Fresno, CA 93728-1298
Phone: 559-233-6129 / 800-228-9896
Fax: 559-268-8174
Email: ndellavalle@dellavallelab.com

University of Delaware
KAREN L. GARTLEY
152 Townsend Hall
531 South College Avenue
Newark, DE 19717-1303
Phone: 302-831-1392
Fax: 302-831-0605
Email: kgartley@udel.edu

Servi-Tech Laboratories
STEVE HARROLD
1816 E Wyatt Earp Boulevard
PO Box 1397 Dodge City, KS 67801
Phone: 316-227-7123
Fax: 316-227-2047
Email: steveh@servi-techinc.com

Plant, Soil & Environmental Sciences
BRUCE HOSKINS
5722 Deering Hall
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469-5722
Email: hoskins@mail.maine.edu

Minnesota Valley Testing Labs
MARY ANN BAUMGART
1126 N Front Street
PO Box 249 New Ulm, MN 56073
Phone: 507-354-8517
Fax: 507-359-2890
Email: mabmvtl@newulmtel.net

MDS Pharma Services
BYRON VAUGHAN
621 Rose Street
Lincoln, NE 68502
Phone: 402-476-2811
Fax: 402-476-7598
Email: bvaug12345@aol.com

Midwest Laboratories Inc.
JEROME J. KING
13611 B Street
Omaha, NE 68144
Phone: 402-334-7770
Fax: 402-334-9121
Email: jking@midwestlabs.com

Brookside Lab Inc.
MARK FLOCK / GREG MEYER
308 S Main Street
New Knoxville, OH 45871
Phone: 419-753-2448
Fax: 419-753-2949
Email: greg@blinc.com

Star Lab
KEVIN JEWELL
1680 Madison Avenue
Wooster, OH 44691
Phone: 330-263-3683
Fax: 330-263-3658
Email: jewell.4@osu.edu

PWD / BLS
PHILIP GODOROV
1500 E Hunting Park Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19124
Phone: 215-685-1425
Fax: 215-743-5594
Email: phillip.godorov@phila.gov

Soil & Feed Lab
CINDY MACLEOD
PEI Department of Agriculture & Forestry
440 University Avenue
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7N3 CANADA
Phone: 902-368-5656
Fax: 902-368-6299
Email: cemacleod@gov.pe.ca

CAP Project Management and Evaluation

Dr. Robert O. Miller is CAP project leader. He oversees collection of sample materials, compiles analytical data, performs statistical analysis, and prepares CAP reports. Summaries of CAP test results are monitored by the US Composting Council Lab Practices Subcommittee of the USCC Standards and Practices Committee.

DR. ROBERT O. MILLER
Soil and Crop Sciences Department
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
Phone: 970-686-5702
Fax: 970-491-0564
Email: rmiller@lamar.colostate.edu