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SWAMP - Quality Control and Sample Handling Guidelines

Cyanotoxin Analysis for Water and Tissue Samples

The SWAMP Quality Control and Sample Handling Tables describe guidelines that are also known as Measurement Quality Objectives (MQOs) or MQO Tables. Please consider the purpose of sampling for cyanobacteria and the desired level of quality control prior to utilizing the MQO Tables listed under Option B.

  • Option A. Collection of samples for screening or research purposes

    The use of MQOs is not required for data collected for screening or research purposes. Screening data may be used to trigger additional monitoring or more intensive study. However, data collected without utilizing MQOs should not be used for regulatory or water body assessment purposes. All data collected for screening purposes should be flagged accordingly (use of SCR compliance code for SWAMP and CEDEN submission). If the purpose of the sampling is to provide data for regulatory or water body assessment purposes, please utilize the MQOs described in Option B.

  • Option B. Collection of samples for regulatory or water body assessment purposes

    SWAMP requires the use of the MQOs described in the two documents listed below for data to be considered for regulatory or water body assessment purposes. An example of a regulatory program that may consider data for regulatory purposes is monitoring for compliance with Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs), Waivers, or Municipal Stormwater permit (MS4). An example data intended for use in water body assessment, includes data collected for use in the California Clean Water Act Section 303(d) Listing Policy. Data collected that is intended for regulatory or assessment use will be reviewed for SWAMP compliance and qualified accordingly.

    The MQOs documents are organized by category of analytical method – either analysis by ligand binding assay (e.g. ELISA) or by analytical chemistry assay (e.g. LC-MS). Please plan to collect sufficient sample volume or weight to allow for analysis of the applicable lab and field quality control requirements. Contact the analytical laboratory to coordinate sample collection when utilizing the MQOs.