Analytical methods and quality assurance

Abstract

ALASA is a non‐profitable umbrella body for laboratories with agricultural relevance and was founded in 1993. Its mission is to promote the interests of member laboratories and to gain recognition for their services and to ensure the acceptable quality thereof. The main aims of ALASA are to establish and maintain standard analytical methods, promote the use of the standardized methods, rationalize methods, support and institute analytical quality assurance schemes and inter‐calibration exercises and the promotion of accreditation of member laboratories. The main functions of ALASA are to liaison with interested parties, member laboratories and other organizations, to promote standardization and quality assurance, organization of suitable workshops, congresses and courses. ALASA is governed by its council consisting of a President, chairperson of the executive committee, secretary and treasurer. The elected chairperson and secretary of each sub‐committee plus two additional members serve on the council. Currently the following sub disciplines are active: plants, soil and growth media, lime, fertilizer, feed, pesticide, water and wine. Sub‐committees meet regularly to discuss and co‐ordinate matters that concern the specific discipline and report back to the council. Problems which ALASA has encountered and which cause variation in analytical results are the incorrect application of methods, the use of different instrumentation and the use of non‐standardized methods. Some of the main achievements of ALASA includes the compilation of standard analytical handbooks for soil (presently under revision), fertilizers and a combined book for plant and feed. Other achievements include the presentation of workshops where the correct methodologies for different methods, which cause reduced variation in the analytical results in the different control schemes, are discussed and explained.