○ Took part in Environmental Resource Associates global proficiency testing
– 7 consecutive years of recognition for excellence since 2016

On December 13, the Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment announced its recognition as a Laboratory of Excellence in the drinking water category for a seventh consecutive year during proficiency testing.

In testing conducted by the Environmental Resource Associates (ERA), the institute received satisfactory grades in all 17 evaluation criteria: 5 heavy metals (mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, and chrome); 5 ions (ammoniacal nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, chloride ions, sulfate ions, and fluoride ions); phenol; cyanide; 3 volatile organic compounds (benzene, chloroform, and bromodichloromethane); and 2 organophosphorus pesticides (diazinon and parathion).

The ERA is an authorized global proficiency testing institute approved by the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission. It conducts proficiency testing to improve the reliability of analytical and experimental data from environment-related research institutes and agencies worldwide, identifying errors and evaluating data accuracy. The Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment takes part in ERA testing every year. This year’s testing saw the participation of 700 institutes around the world, including 80 from Korea.

This year, institutes measured and analyzed an unknown sample (provided to the analyzing institute with relevant information—e.g. concentration, composition—concealed) that was shipped to all participating institutes on the same day. Each institute enters its results on the ERA website to compare with the standard values and measurements of other participants. The final values are then converted into a Z-score of three levels: Satisfactory, Warning or Unsatisfactory. A Z-score refers to a value obtained by dividing the difference between the standard values and the observed values by the standard deviation of the samples; the closer to 0, the better the accuracy. If all categories are within the satisfactory range, a participant is given a certificate of excellence.

Park Yong-bae, head of the Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment, said, “Our institute has been internationally recognized for its analytical ability through international certification for seven consecutive years since 2016… We will continue to strengthen our international testing and analytical ability to earn the trust of Gyeonggi residents.”