Important changes to reporting

There are several changes to our reporting options we would like you to know about. These changes are being implemented by the end of March 2010.

Reporting of Results

As many of you are aware, Hill Laboratories has implemented a new Laboratory Information Management System over the last two-three years. As a result some significant improvements to how Hill Laboratories handles and delivers information were implemented, including the way results are presented in our reports.

Some of our customers questioned aspects of our new approach once it was implemented, especially in the areas of detection limits (DL's) and the number of significant figures (SF's) reported. After consultation with a variety of experts, we have decided to modify our approach to reporting slightly to bring it more into line with common practice.

The major changes you will see are:

The number of significant figures is based on the uncertainty associated with the test and the reported value in question. Generally, two significant figures is appropriate, although one or three significant figures is sometimes justified for some methods. We will now report an extra significant figure for those results starting with a '1', to mitigate the greater proportional effect of rounding.

Hill Laboratories will also revert to reporting detection limits to one significant figure, unless the detection limit starts with a '1', when it will be reported to two significant figures. This is for the same reasons given above, and reduces the occurrence of data censorship. We will continue to strictly round up all calculated detection limits prior to reporting.
Please be assured that these changes are purely in the presentation of results, and do not effect the quality of the analyses conducted. For further information about reporting formats contact Hill Laboratories on 07 858 2000.

 

Uncertainty of Measurement

Hill Laboratories is now offering reports containing the uncertainty of measurement related to the chemistry testing results you receive from us. The reporting of uncertainty estimates is becoming more common internationally, with the aim of allowing better decisions to be made from the reported data. This is especially so for results that must be compared against a regulatory limit. You have the option of requesting an uncertainty report in addition to the normal report, or specifying the uncertainty report as your default.
The reporting of uncertainty estimates has been mandatory for Drinking Water testing for a year now ('Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand 2005 (Revised 2008)'). The reporting of uncertainty estimates is optional for other testing.

For further information about uncertainty of measurement and its use at Hill Laboratories, refer to technical note KB25958 'An Introduction to Uncertainty of Measurement' .

If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this further, please don't hesitate to contact the laboratory at

 07 858 2000 North Island or 03 377 7176 South Island.