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ESDAT Sample and Chemistry Electronic Lab Data Format v2 extended:

The purpose of the ESDAT Electronic Lab Data Format (ELDF) is to enable transfer of data from a laboratory to ESDAT users in a format which allows checking and direct import into ESDAT.   

 

This version 2 extended format is compatible with all current implementations of ESdat, and is additionally ready for the pending upgrade to v 4 of the ELDF (there is no v3).  Upgrade to v 4 will only require the removal of the fields named Blank# in the Sample file.

 

The files contain batch receipt, lab report, sample and chemistry information, including comprehensive quality assurance data.  The ELDF consists of two required files and two optional files.  All four files will be required for v4 compatibility.

 

Required Files:

Sample File,

Chemistry Results File (which contains the results).

 

Files not required, but recommended, required if client uses eCOC's with ESdat:

Batch Receipt (SDG) File,

Lab Report File,

 

The ELDF file names are of the format: the project name as provided by the users; a full stop; a laboratory file identifier; a full stop; the text "Chemistry2e" or "Sample2e" etc.. (For the Chemistry or Sample EDD respectively) and the suffix ".csv".

 

An example of a file set would be

   Project1.LabFile01.Sample2e.csv
   Project1.LabFile01.Chemistry2e.csv

   Project1.LabFile01.SDG2e.csv

   Project1.LabFile01.LabReport2e.csv
   

 

Within the export files Line 1 lists the data fields, line 2 and onwards contains the data for those fields:


 

 

Sample File:

One record for each field and laboratory sample

Received.

Lab_Comments

Primary Key

Field

Description

Req’d

Data Type

*

SampleCode

Unique Identifier for each sample *

Y

Text(40)

 

Sampled_Date/Time

From COC

 

Date with optional time

 

Field ID

From COC

 

Text(40)

 

Blank1**

Empty

 

 

 

Depth

From COC, (non-electronic COC’s only)

 

Number

 

Blank2

Empty

 

 

 

Matrix_Type

 

Y

List of  Soil, Water, Gas, SoilGas

 

Sample_Type

Description of sample as from the field, spike, surrogate.

Y

List of :
Normal,
MS, (Matrix Spike)
MS_D, (Matrix Spike Duplicate)
MB, (Method Blank)
SB, (Storage Blank)
LCS, (Lab Control Sample)
SRM, (Standard)
CRM, (certified reference material)
LAB_D (Duplicate)
LAB_T (Triplicate)
NCP (Non-Client Parent – for duplicates or surrogates from another client in the same sample analysis batch)

 

Parent_Sample

For duplicates, give the SampleCode of the original

 

Text(40)

 

Blank3

Empty

N

 

 

SDG

Sample Delivery Group, From COC, or if not available use Date Received.

 Y

Text(20)

 

Lab_Name

 

Y

Text(20)

 

Lab_SampleID

Laboratory Sample ID

 Y

Text(20)

 

  Lab_Comments Comments regarding the sample N Text(255)
  Lab_Report_Number   Y Text(20)

 

*The SampleCode should be constructed using the following method: Field Samples to be coded SDG_FieldID.  Laboratory Samples (all non client samples) to be coded Lab Report Number_LabSampleID

 

**Fields Blank1, Blank2 etc.. are to maintain consistency with the current v2.7 export.  They do not need to be populated as this data is now provided in the Lab Report and SDG files.  They will eventually be removed from the export when all ESdat users can support v4 of the ELDF.  When they are removed the alteratered files will be v4 compatible.


 

Chemistry File:

One record for each result

Primary Key

Field

Description

Required

Data Type

*

SampleCode

Unique Identifier for each sample (as per Sample File)

Y

Text(40)

*

ChemCode

Unique Identifier for each analyte (eg. CAS number)

Y

Text(20)

 

OriginalChemName

Common name for the analyte

Y

Text(50)

 

Prefix

 

if below detection limit

"<" or ">"

 

 

Result

 

Y

Number

 

Result_Unit

 

Y

Text(10)

*

Total_or_Filtered

Either Total or Filtered, if blank will default to T.

Y

List of
T (Total)
F (Filtered)

*

Result_Type

 

Y

Restricted to:
REG (regular result)
leached_REG (regular leached results)
SUR (Surrogate)
SC (Spike Compound)

 

Method_Type

 

Y

Text(50):
PAH
Pesticides
Inorganic
Metals...

Etc as indicated on the CoC.

*

Method_Name

 

Y

Text(70)

More detailed lab method categories eg:
PAH
Amines

 

Extraction_Date

Date extracted

if possible

Date

 

Analysed_Date

Date analysed

if possible

Date

 

EQL

Quantitation Limit

Y

Number

 

EQL_Units

Quantitation Limit Units

Y

Text(15)

 

Comments

 

N

Text(255)

 

QA_Status

Optional *

N

Text

 

UCL

Upper Confidence Limit used for surrogate recoveries

N

Number

 

LCL

Lower Confidence Limit used for surrogate recoveries

N

Number

 

*The QA_Status may be populated with a data qualifier (U,J,J+,J-,R,UJ) as described in various USEPA documents, for example: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/clp/download/inorgfg10-08-04.pdf ,  /  Data Qualifier Definitions

 

SDG File:

Collects information recorded on the COC and lab receipt information

Primary Key

Field

Description

Req’d

Data Type

*

SDG

Sample Delivery Group, From COC, or if not available use LabReportID_DateReceived.

Y

Text(20)

 

Destination_Laboratory

Lab Name

Y

 

 

Laboratory_Contact

Lab Project Manager

Y

Date

 

Date_Sent

Date sent from the field

Y

Text(40)

 

Relinquished_By

Field Contact

Y

 

 

Primary_Contact

Client Project Manager

Y

 

 

Turnaround_Request

 

Y

 

 

Special_Instructions

 

Y

If nothing use NA

 

Cooled

Y/N

Y

 

 

Lab_Quote_No

 

Y

 

 

Number_Delivery_Boxes

Ie number of eskys

Y

 

 

Lab_Recipient

Person receiving the boxes

Y

 

 

Lab_Login_Date

 

Y

 

 

Laboratory Report File:

Collects report level information

Primary Key

Field

Description

Req’d

Data Type

*

Lab_Report_Number

Unique Identifier for each lab report

Y

Text(20)

 

Date_Reported

 

Y

 

 

Project_Name

Name\Number as given by the client

Y

 

 

Lab_Name

 

Y

 

 

Lab_Signatory

 

Y

 

 

Report_Recipient1

Main recipient

Y

 

 

Report_Recipient2

Second

 

 

 

Report_Recipient3

Third and subsequent

 

 

 

File Format

The fields and data in the file may optionally be surrounded by quotation marks.

Duplicates

Lab duplicates and triplicates should have a different sample code to the original sample, (typically the same code ending in _D, _T or similar, ie each sample code is unique). The Sample_Type field should indicate whether it is a duplicate or triplicate.  The original sample code for duplicates or triplicates should go in  the field "Parent_Sample".

Leachate Tests

Leaching test results are not given a separate SampleCode, (ie are not treated as a separate sample).  Results are indicated in the chemistry file, and are identified in the Result_Type field.

Date Formats

Dates should be in the format dd mmm yy (eg 3 Jan 07).  This avoids confusion between users with different regional settings.

Tentatively Identified Compounds

Tentatively Identified Compounds should be identified as such in the Comments field of the chemistry file.

Asbestos

As the result value requires a number, and asbestos is often reported as text the following convention is adopted.  For a non detect the result has a value of 0.  For a detect the result has a value of 1 and the text is inserted into the Comments Field.