Proficiency testing

    Proficiency testing


    Laboratory participation in the inter-laboratory comparisons is one of the requirements of the GOST ISO/IEC 17025:2005-2009 international standard for quality assurance of the test results.

    EZOCM JSC has been accredited as a proficiency testing provider of laboratory qualification validations for compliance with the ISO 17043:2010. The list of proficiency test items includes refined precious metals; alloys based on precious metals; secondary waste, mineral raw materials containing precious metals; solutions containing precious metal ions. Samples are tested for mass fraction (mass concentrations) of elements.

    Proficiency testing (PT) programs realized by EZOCM in 2023

    PT index

    Test item

    Matrix

    Ranges of element mass fraction

    Test material form and mass

    Deadline for participation application

    OCM-36-2023

    Alloyed gold

    Au-Ag and non-precious metals

    Au – (72‑82) %;
    Ag – (2‑5) %.

    Rolled plates (thickness 0.2‑0.3 mm); mass 3 g*

    April 1st, 2023

    OCM-37-2023

    Technological waste containing precious metals

    Al (~ 24 %);
    Si (~ 16 %);
    Fe (~ 1 %); 
    K (~ 1 %);
    total of Cl, Na; Cu, Ca, Mg, Sn, Ti, S ~ 2.5 %

    Au – (0.01-0.10) %;
    Ag – (0.01-0.10) %;
    Ir – (0.005-0.015) %;
    Pd – (0.01-0.10) %;
    Pt – (0.1-1.0) %;
    Rh – (0.01-0.10) %;
    Ru – (0.005-0.05) %

    Powder (particle size less than 200 μm); mass 20 g*

    April 1st, 2023

    OCM-38-2023

    Electronic scrap

    Cu

    Au – (0.05-0.50) %;
    Ag – (0.01-0.10) %;
    Pt – (0.005-0.050) %;
    Pd – (0.001-0.010) %

    Chips (thickness about 0.5 mm); mass 10 g*

    April 1st, 2023

    OCM-39-2023

    Iridium

    Ir

    Ag, Al, Bi, Ba, Fe,Au, Cd, Co, Si, Mg, Cu, As, Ni, Sn, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru, Pb, Ti, Cr, Zn – content of each impurity < 0.007 % **

    Powder; mass 1 g*

    April 1st, 2023

    OCM-40-2023

    Palladium scrap

    Pd-Pt-Rh

    Pd – (65-81) %;
    Pt – (19-35) %;
    Rh – not more than 1 %

    Rolled plates (thickness 0.2‑0.3 mm); mass 5 g*

    June 1st, 2023

    OCM-41-2023

    Alloyed gold (Dore)

    Au, Ag

    Au – (25-40) %;
    Ag – (55-70) %

    Rolled plates (thickness 0.2 mm); mass 3 g*

    July 1st, 2023

    * or more on the request.

    ** Since March 9th , 2023

    Additional information:

    1. According to the PT programs OCM-36-2023, OCM-40-2023 and OCM-41-2023, upon request, a test item can be provided in the form of a disk with a diameter of 20 mm and a thickness of 2 mm.
    2. It is recommended to use the following test item mass for analysis:
      • for the OCM-36-2023 -not less than 0.25 g;
      • for the OCM-37-2023, not less than 1 g for palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, silver determination; not less than 2 g for gold and iridium determination;
      • for the OCM-38-2023 - not less than 0.5 g;
      • for the OCM-40-2023 - not less than 0.15 g for palladium determination; not less than 0.05 g for platinum determination; not less than 0.14 g for rhodium determination;
      • for the OCM-41-2023 - not less than 0.25 g.

      For the OCM-39-2023 the minimum sample mass for analysis is 0.3 g.

    3. The performance of PT program participants will be evaluated using z-score (ẑ score) in accordance with Annex B of GOST ISO/IEC 17043 2013. The value of the z index or ẑ index is rounded to one decimal place.
    4. The standard deviation for proficiency evaluation are:
      • for the programs OCM-36-2023 and OCM-41-2023 based on the expanded uncertainties bound of the method of quantitative chemical analysis MA IAС-71-2010;
      • for the programs OCM-37-2023, OCM-38-2023, OCM-40-2023 based on the expanded uncertainties of the assigned values of the PT test item;
      • for the OCM-39-2023 program based on the permissible diversity of reproducibility according to GOST 12223.0-76 (with changes 1, 2) or for elements not included in the number of elements to be determined according to the standard GOST 12223.0-76 or whose mass fraction in the PT test item is below than the GOST 12223.0-76 determination limit, as ½ of the assigned value of the PT test item.

    5. Laboratories may participate in proficiency testing regardless of their legal form and accreditation status. The participant chooses the measurement technique at his own discretion, taking into account the information presented in the PT program. The PT test item must be treated proficiency test items in the same manner as the majority of routinely tested.

    The participant can provide measurement results obtained by different methods or operators at no additional charge for assessing of the proficiency evaluation. The proficiency testing is carried out after receiving at least two applications for participation.

    For more information, please contact us:

    Elena Anchutina, PT Programs Coordinator: 

    Phone: +7 (343) 311-47-21, e-mail: e.anchutina@ezocm.ru

    Milana Mustafina, Lead specialist of International Trade Department:

    Phone: +7 (343) 311-46-29, e-mail: overseas@ezocm.ru

    To establish a long term plan of proficiency testing, please fill in the questionnaire, which includes a list of items and test characteristics to organize proficiency testing programs in which your lab would like to take part and return it to us via e-mail: m.lisienko@ezocm.ru or by letter to the following postal address:

    attn: Maria Lisienko, Head of Central Analytical Laboratory, EZOCM JSC, 131 Uspensky Prospect, Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Sverdlovsk Region, 624097, Russia.

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    Provider’s Accreditation Certificate AAC.РТР.00315