Interlaboratory quality control and status of n-hexane biological monitoring in Japan

This paper reports the problem of interlaboratory quality control and the actual condition of biological monitoring of n-hexane among the seven major laboratories specializing in clinical chemistry tests, where more than 80% of the total urine specimens in Japan have been analyzed after the beginning of biological monitoring of n-hexane in 1989. First, transportation conditions of urine specimens and transportation effects on measurement results were studied. The seven major laboratories carried urine specimens at distances of more than 450 km from the University of Occupational and Environmental Health (UOEH) to the respective laboratories and had at least one transit terminal where specimens from various areas were collected and transferred to the analytical laboratories. All laboratories used cooler boxes with dry ice or ice bars and stored the specimens in freezers or refrigerators. Specimens arrived at the final destinations within 24 hours. The transportation from institutes for health examination to the laboratories did not affect the measurement results of 2,5-hexanedione (HD), a determinant of n-hexane biological monitoring. Interlaboratory cross-checks were performed among the seven major laboratories and four institutes for occupational health examination that have their own analytical laboratories. All of the laboratories analyzed HD by acid hydrolysis (pH < 1.0); interlaboratory differences were recognized at the first cross-check. After some laboratories intensified gas chromatography (GC) maintenance and changed to a new column, the interlaboratory variation lessened.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)