USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) Method Study 38, SW-846, Method 3010: acid digestion of aqueous samples and extracts for total metals for analysis by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Final report, September 1986-February 1988

An interlaboratory collaborative study was conducted to determine the mean recovery and precision for analyses of 21 trace metals in surface and waste waters. The study design was based upon Youden's non-replicate plan for collaborative tests of analytical methods. Four water matrices were spiked with 21 trace metals at six concentration levels, as three Youden pairs. Nine participating laboratories analyzed the four sample types using Method 3010. The primary objective was to use the USEPA computer program Interlaboratory Method Validation Study to measure recovery and precision for the 21 trace metals and compare the performance of the method across water types. Minimum detection limits (MDLs) were also compared. Comparison between samples, at the lowest metals concentration specified and another sample at 50% of those values, verified that the values specified in SW-846 are valid.