Innovative Technology Evaluation Report National Risk Management Research Laboratory Office of Research and Development U.s. Environmental Protection Agency

This report describes the demonstration and evaluation of an immunoassay field screening technology designed to determine polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in soil. The immunoassay technology was the EnviroGard PCB Test developed by Millipore, Inc. The technology was demonstrated in Kansas City, Missouri, in August 1992, by PRC Environmental Management, Inc. (PRC), under contract to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory-Las Vegas (EMSL-LV). The principal objective of the demonstration was to evaluate the technology for accuracy and precision at detecting high and low levels of PCB in soil samples by comparing their results to those attained by a confirmatory laboratory using standard EPA analytical methods. The technology also was qualitatively evaluated for the length of time required for analysis, ease of use, portability, and operating cost. Accuracy was also assessed through analysis of performance evaluation (PE) samples, and precision was further assessed by comparing the results obtained on duplicate samples. A secondary objective of the demonstration was to evaluate the specificity of the technology. The evaluation of specificity was performed by examining any problems due to naturally occurring matrix effects, site-specific matrix effects, Aroclor sensitivity, and chemical cross reactivity. Information on specificity was gathered from the developer, from the analysis of demonstration samples, and from a specificity study performed during the demonstration. This report was submitted in fulfillment of contract No. 68-CO-0047 by PRC, under sponsorship of the EPA. This report covers a period from February 10, 1992, to August 31, 1992, and work was completed as of February 28, 1993.