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Proficiency Testing - Regular Interlaboratory Counting Scheme (RICE)
 RICE assesses the proficiency of laboratories counting asbestos fibres in air. Participation in RICE in the United Kingdom is recommended in the Health and Safety Executive's Guidance - HSG 248, "Asbestos: The analyst's guide for sampling, analysis and clearance procedures" and is a precondition for accreditation of this analysis by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
Participation in the scheme is compulsory for laboratories assessing clearance under the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR).
The RICE scheme is operated by HSL, which oversees management, registration,
and membership matters together with distribution of the samples
and processing the participant data.
Analytes in the scheme
Asbestos fibres mounted on microscope slides.
Operation of the scheme
Eight test slides are sent to laboratories every three to four months.
Laboratories have 7 days to analyse the samples and 14 days to report
the results. Performance is categorised as A, B or C and provided
more than 75% of results are in the A or B category after four rounds
then a laboratory is classified as 'satisfactory'. This scheme is
a round robin where sets of slides are circulated between groups
of laboratories.
Schedule
Round Number |
Samples Despatched
Week commencing
|
Results Deadline |
80 |
28 April 2008 |
6 June 2008 |
81 |
27 August 2008 |
3 October 2008 |
82 |
27 October 2008 |
12 December 2008 |
83 |
19 January 2009 |
27 February 2009 |
- Royal Mail Special Delivery (next day) is recommended for distribution of RICE samples between laboratories
- HSL aim to send out provisional reports 10 workings days from receipt of results.
- Final reports and certificates will be sent upon completion of each round. Please note new rules apply to turnaround times associated with the distribution of test slides between participants (see Information for Participants 2008 below).
Information for Participants 2008
Further information
For more information on the scheme or to join please use our online enquiry form, or contact:
Hannah Clark
Health and Safety Laboratory
Harpur Hill
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 9JN
Tel: 01298 218553
Fax: 01298 218572
Email: proficiency.testing@hsl.gov.uk
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