Features

The Electronic Digest for Environmental Laboratories

LABFACTS is an online service designed to be a complete and timely repository of all important laboratory information, presented in an easy to use format. The backup material on file at Catalyst provides the full support needed for special circumstances. This focus on laboratory issues is what sets Catalyst apart from other companies.

The benefits of using LABFACTS include:

Comprehensive laboratory information
Summary information focused on laboratory activities
PC Formatting for easy use, such as copy and paste.
Document search and retrieval software to help you quickly find what you need.
Comprehensive Laboratory Information
LABFACTS is designed to be a comprehensive repository of information related to laboratory analyses. Information on the following topics is included:

Regulations and Methods
EPA Memos and other hard to find information
Laboratory Accreditation
Endocrine Disrupters
DOD Documents
Regulatory Changes or Corrections / Proposed Changes
And much more. Go to Contents to see details.
Summarized Information for Easy Usage
By design, LABFACTS presents only summary information. LABFACTS assumes the user is somewhat familiar with EPA regulatory requirements and EPA methods. For Regulations and related Federal Register documents, the summary information will be the information related to analyses. For EPA methods, the summary information will be the Scope and Application of the method, analyte lists, and performance tables contained in the methods. The full text of any CFR or Federal Register citation or any EPA method is readily available from Catalyst when you really need the details. (Note: For certain critical documents, such as the AFCEE QAPP, the NELAC standards, or Chapter One of SW-846, only minor editing is performed.)

LABFACTS contains the actual language from the source document, except where noted. In some cases, explanatory notes are added by Catalyst. Unnecessary and/or redundant language has been deleted. For example, the proposed Hazardous Waste Identification Rule contains a phrase “below exemption levels in Appendix X to this part 261, as determined by testing an extract using test method 1311 (the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure, set out in “Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods” (SW-846)).” (37 words) In LABFACTS, this phrase was condensed to “below exemption levels in Appendix X, as determined by testing an extract using Method 1311.” (15 words). All editing of source documents is performed by Jerry Parr.

PC Formatting
LABFACTS is designed to allow users to copy important information for their own internal use (e.g. QAPPs, SOPs) Many EPA Methods and related documents contain extensive formatting which hinder this type of activity. Software such as Adobe Acrobat retains the original author’s format, but is difficult to use other than viewing or printing. LABFACTS allows you to copy and paste complex documents directly into your document with minimal editing.

Document Search and Retrieval Software
LABFACTS provides software to assist you in quickly finding the information you need.