The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry (JSAC) has designed and practiced proficiency testing programs based on the ISO/IEC Guide 34-1 in order to assist laboratory accreditation activities promoted by the accreditation bodies in Japan. The programs for interlaboratory comparisons include heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Fe for program and Pb, total-Cr, Cu for program ) in artificial waste water, volatile organic compounds (trichloroethylene and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene) in underground water, anion

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... oride ion, nitrate ion, sulphate ion) in artificial rainwater, heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Fe) in soil, dioxin in flyash etc. Except the dioxin program, two samples for each program were distributed to participant laboratories and test results reported were calculated by the statistical procedure using z scores to evaluate performance of each laboratory. The executed programs and the laboratory's performance are disscussed and scheduled programs are presented. Proficiency testing is essential not only to confirm the degree of equivalence among test results from different testing laboratories but to evaluate analytical performance of each participant laboratory. Since 1997, proficiency testing programs for analytical technicians have been designed by the Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry (JSAC). As the purpose of the proficiency testing was focused on education and training, the programs consisted of lecture and technical testing courses and did not accredit testing laboratories but evaluated technical ability of analytical technicians who participated in the proficiency testing. 1 In 1998, the Advisory Committee of Proficiency Testing was established under the JSAC Committee on Chemical Metrology in order to design and operate proficiency testing programs for interlaboratory comparisons described in the ISO/IEC Guide 34-1. 2 Detailed scheme of each program was designed by the Coordinating Committee of Proficiency Testing in which technical experts of collaborating organizations participated. The main purpose of the proficiency testing programs was to assist laboratory accreditation activities based on the ISO/IEC Guide 25 (ISO/IEC 17025) promoted by the accreditation bodies in Japan; the Japan Accreditation Board for Conformity Assessment (JAB), the Japan National Laboratory Accreditation System (JNLA) and the Japan Chemical Laboratory Accreditation (JCLA). In the last two years, several kinds of programs have been practiced; that is, heavy metals in waste water and soil, volatile organic compounds in underground water, anion in rainwater, COD in waste water, dioxin in flyash etc. In this paper, the samples, test items, statistical analysis of test results and evaluation of laboratory's performance in each program are described and future planning of programs is introduced.