College of Forestry

CCAL

Analytical Detection Levels

Analysis Method Detection Limit (MDL) ¹ Minimum Level of Quantification (ML) ² Precision ³
Alkalinity 0.2 mg CaCO3/L 0.6 mg/L +/- 0.2 mg/L
Ammonia-Nitrogen * 0.003 mg/L 0.009 mg/L +/- 0.003 mg/L
Bromide 0.01 mg/L 0.03 mg/L +/- 0.01 mg/L
Calcium 0.06 mg/L 0.19 mg/L +/- 0.06 mg/L
Carbon, Inorganic 0.05 mg/L 0.16 mg/L +/-0.05 mg/L
Carbon, Organic 0.05 mg/L 0.16 mg/L +/-0.05 mg/L
Chloride 0.01 mg/L 0.03 mg/L +/- 0.01 mg/L
Iron 0.06 mg/L 0.19 mg/L +/- 0.06 mg/L
Magnesium 0.02 mg/L 0.06 mg/L +/- 0.02 mg/L
Manganese 0.02 mg/L 0.06 mg/L +/- 0.02 mg/L
Nitrate(+Nitrite)-Nitrogen 0.001 mg/L 0.003 mg/L +/- 0.001 mg/L
Nitrogen, Total (Persulfate) 0.01 mg/L 0.03 mg/L +/- 0.01 mg/L
pH 0.1 pH units 0.3 pH units +/- 0.1 pH units
Phosphorus, Ortho 0.001 mg/L 0.003 mg/L +/- 0.001 mg/L
Phosphorus, Total 0.002 mg/L 0.006 mg/L +/- 0.002 mg/L
Potassium 0.03 mg/L 0.10 mg/L +/- 0.03 mg/L
Silicon 0.20 mg/L 0.6 mg/L +/- 0.05 mg/L
Sodium 0.01 mg/L 0.03 mg/L +/- 0.01 mg/L
Specific Conductance 0.4 us/cm 1.3 us/cm +/- 2% us/cm
Strontium 0.02 mg/L 0.06 mg/L +/- 0.02 mg/L
Sulfate 0.01 mg/L 0.03 mg/L +/- 0.01 mg/L
Suspended Sediment 2 mg/L N/A +/- 2 mg/L
Total Dissolved Solids 5 mg/L N/A +/- 5 mg/L

  1. The semiquantitative limit is the EPA MDL from 40 cfr part 136 as explained in detail in the epa publication http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods/det/rad.pdf.
  2. The ML is defined as the lowest level at which the entire analytical system must give a recognizable signal and acceptable calibration point for the analyte. See D. Helsel. 2005. Nondetects and Data Analysis: Statistics for Censored Environmental Data. Wiley. 288 pp., http://www.wiley.com/ or http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods/det/rad.pdf.
  3. Precision evaluated by repeated analysis of near detection level standard solutions.
* Please note that for ammonia-nitrogen that the laboratory has been able to produce data with the same precision as stated above at a LOD of 0.005 mg/L.