Interlaboratory studies

Building the capacity of laboratories in Europe and globally by systematic organisation and initiation of international Collaborative Trials is part of the regular activities of the NORMAN network. More than 20 Collaborative Trials have been organised by NORMAN since 2006 on a wide range of methods, including non-target screening in water, sediment, indoor dust and biota, in vitro and in vivo bioassays and passive sampling. Based on the needs identified by the NORMAN community, these studies represent a crucial step for the scientific community and for environmental agencies for validation and harmonisation of innovative sampling and monitoring tools before their possible future implementation in regulations.

List of activities

Topic	Event	Programme	Deadline	Reports
Topic: Norman Interlaboratory Comparison Study Microplastics in Water Soluble Tablets in collaboration with ISO and PlasticTrace. Organised by: NIVA, EAWAG, PlasticTrace, ISO	Interlaboratory Trial July 2024 - December 2024	Registration	June: Announcement July: Registration closes 1st of August: Tablets a are distributed to participating labs 8th of October: Deadline reporting 4th of November: Deadline for data analysis End of Nov/beginning of Dec: On-line workshop 3rd-4th December: Presentation Norman General Assembly
Topic: Norman Interlaboratory Comparison Study Microplastics on instrument and software identification in collaboration with PlasticTrace. Organised by: NIVA, EAWAG, PlasticTrace, ISO	Interlaboratory Trial July 2024 - December 2025	Registration	June: Announcement July: Registration closes 1st of August: Sandwich filters are distributed to participating labs 8th of October: Deadline reporting 4th of November: Deadline for data analysis End of Nov/beginning of Dec: On-line workshop 3rd-4th December: Presentation Norman General Assembly
Topic: NORMAN Collaborative Trial 2024-2025 - Non-target screening of airborne organic substances in PDMS-foam passive samplers Organized by: Stockholm University (Sweden), NILU (Norway), and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece)	Interlaboratory trial October 2024 - February 2025	Invitation letter Registration	Announcement: 6 June 2024 Deadline for registration: 15 July 2024 Shipment: October 2024 Deadline for submission of results: February 2025	Results from each participant should be registered in an Excel reporting template distributed to all participants. The template with the results should be returned electronically by February 30^th, 2025
Topic: WEPAL-QUASIMEME Interlaboratory Study on the Analysis of Microplastics in Environmental Matrices Organised by: Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE) at Vrije Universiteit, O\|2 Lab building, Van der Boechorstraat 3, 1081 BT Amsterdam, Netherlands; WEPAL-QUASIMEME Laboratory Performance Studies at Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 8005, 6700 EC Wageningen, Netherlands; and NIVA - Norwegian Research Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway	ROUND 2024 - Development Exercise DE 17	Flyer Registration form	Deadline for registration: 1 June 2024	Final report: 1 February 2025; Webinar to discuss results: mid February 2025
Topic: Interlaboratory trial PT 5/24 - TW S11 - halocetic acids Organised by: AQS Baden-Württemberg at Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart-Büsnau, Germany and IWW Water Center, Moritzstr. 26, 45476 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany	Interlaboratory trial	Announcement Registration	Announcement: 11 March 2024 Deadline for registration: 5 April 2024 Shipment: 4 June 2024 Entry deadline: 24 June 2024
Topic: Interlaboratory trial PT 8/24 - TW S5 - sulfonyl urea herbicides Organised by: AQS Baden-Württemberg at Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart-Büsnau, Germany and IWW Water Center, Moritzstr. 26, 45476 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany	Interlaboratory trial		Announcement: 24 June 2024 Deadline for registration: 12 July 2024 Shipment: 10 September 2024 Entry deadline: 30 September 2024
NORMAN Collaborative Trial 2023-2024 - Intercomparison of Ion mobility separation data - Development of open-access CCS databases for IMS Organised by: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece), Environmental Institute (Slovak Republic), University Jaume I (Spain) and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences of Vienna (Austria)	June 2023 – Dec 2024	Invitation letter	Deadline for registration: 15 June 2023
Proficiency Test PT 7/22 TW S4 – PFAS according to EU drinking water directive Organised by: AQS Baden-Württemberg at Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart-Büsnau, Germany and IWW Water Center, Moritzstr. 26, 45476 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany	Proficiency Test July 2022			Report
PFAS analytical exchange - TOP Assay Method Comparison Organised by: Environment Agency (UK) In collaboration with University of the Basque Country, Vito NV, Fraunhofer IME, Örebro University, Wageningen University & Research, Luleå University of Technology, German Federal Environment Agency, The French National Centre for Scientific Research	International Exchange April – October 2022	Questionnaire	Deadline for questionnaire: 19 October 2022	Report Published April 2023
Proficiency Test 2/22 - TW S7 – Trifluoroacetic acid in drinking water Organised by: AQS Baden-Württemberg at Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart-Büsnau, Germany	Proficiency Test February 2022		Deadline for registration: 23 December 2021 Deadline for the dispatch: 22 February 2022 Deadline for reporting: 14 March 2022	Report
PFAS suspect HRMS lists and lists of PFAS-containing products activity organised as a part of the NORMAN JPA 2022 by QAEHS – the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Science, The University of Queensland, Australia; IRSA-CNR - Water Research Institute of the National Research Council of Italy and University of Amsterdam, The Netherland	Survey Workshop Interlaboratory study	Programme and Survey	4 December 2022
Collaborative Trial on Passive air sampling and wide-scope suspect/non-target screening for organic substances in indoor and outdoor air Organised by: NILU – Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NO), Stockholm University (SE), Aarhus University (DK) in collaboration with Environmental Institute (SK), and University of Athens (GR)	Interlaboratory study September 2022/December 2023	Invitation letter and registration link	Deadline for registration: 1 August 2022
QUASIMEME/EUROqCHARM/NORMAN Interlaboratory Study on the Analysis of Microplastics in Environmental Matrices (3rd round) Organised by: QUASIMEME/EUROqCHARM	Collaborative Trial (3rd round) Apr 2022 - July 2022	Flyer and registration form	Deadline for registration: 1 April 2022	(Not available yet) Workshop in Amsterdam at the VU University 15 September 2022
PFAS Analytical Exchange Organised by: Environment Agency (UK) in collaboration with Aarhus University (DK), Finnish Environment Institute SYKE (FI), IWW Water Centre (DE), Norwegian Environment Agency (NO), Örebro University (SE), University of the Basque Country (ES), VITO NV (BE), Wageningen Food Safety Research (NL)	International Exchange May – December 2021	Link to questionnaire	Deadline for questionnaire completion: 20 September 2021	Report
Collaborative trial on (semi-) quantitative non-targeted analysis with LC/ESI/HRMS Organised by: Stockholm University, Sweden and University of Athens, Greece	Interlaboratory study October 2020 / January 2021	Invitation and programme Registration form	Deadline for registration: 30 October 2020
Proficiency test 5/20 TW S3 - TW S4 – PFC in drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory study September 2020	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for registration: 24 July 2020	Report
QUASIMEME/NORMAN Interlaboratory Study on the Analysis of Microplastics in Environmental Matrices (2^nd round) Organised by: QUASIMEME	Collaborative Trial (2^nd round) Sept 2020 - Jan 2021	Flyer with the invitation and the application form	Deadline for registration: 1 September 2020	Report The report of the workshop
Proficiency test 3/20 TW S3 - Alkylphenols in drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory study April/May 2020	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for registration: 21 February 2020	Report
2nd NORMAN Collaborative Trial for Non-target and suspect screening of organic contaminants in indoor dust Organised by: Umeå University (SE) in collaboration with NILU (NO), Antwerpen University (BE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL) and Environmental Institute (SK)	Interlaboratory study September 2020/February 2021	Invitation letter and registration link	Deadline for registration: 30 September 2020
Proficiency test Microplastics in drinking water and sediments Organised by: JRC (IT) and BAM (DE)	Interlaboratory study Autumn 2019	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for expression of interest: 1 September 2019
Proficiency test 5/19 TW S2 - Pharmaceuticals in drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory study September 2019	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for registration: 12 July 2019
QUASIMEME/NORMAN Interlaboratory Study on the Analysis of Microplastics in Environmental Matrices (1st round) Organised by: QUASIMEME	Collaborative Trial (1 round) April 2019 - Nov 2019	Invitation letter Registration form	Deadline for registration: 12 April 2019	Report Publication
NORMAN Collaborative Trial - on Suspect screening in biota Organised by: SLU (SE), Stockholm University (SE), Umea University (SE) and Environmental Institute (SK)	Collaborative Trial (1 round) September 2019 - Nov 2020	Invitation letter Registration	Deadline for registration: 10 April 2019	Report
Proficiency test 3/19 TW S1 - Sweeteners and benzotriazoles in drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory Study April 2019	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for registration: 15 February 2019	Report
NORMAN Collaborative Trial - on bioassays for neurotoxicity testing Organised by: RWTH Aachen University (DE)	Collaborative Trial (1 round) September 2018 - December 2018	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for registration: 14 September 2018
Proficiency test 8/18 TW S6 – X-ray- and MRT-contrast media in drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory Study September 2018	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for registration: 24 July 2018
NORMAN Collaborative Trial - Extraction of engineered nanomaterials from complex matrices - an interlaboratory comparison study Organised by: UFZ (DE), EAWAG (CH), Uni Koblenz-Landau (DE)	Workshop in September 2018 followed by interlaboratory study Collaborative Trial (1 round) November 2018 - March 2019	Invitation letter Registration form	Deadline for registration: 31 August 2018
NORMAN Collaborative Trial - Bioassays for genotoxicity testing Organised by: KWR (NL)	Collaborative Trial (1 round) July 2018 - November 2018	Invitation letter	Deadline for registration: 15 June 2018	Report
Proficiency test 5/18 TW S7 - Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory Study June 2018	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for registration: 13 April 2018	Report
Proficiency test 3/18 TW S5 – Sulfonylurea herbicides in drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory Study March 2018	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for registration: 12 January 2018	Report
Proficiency test 6/17 TW S4 – PFC in drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory Study October 2017	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for registration: 14 July 2017	Report
Proficiency test 2/17 TW S3 – Alkylphenoles in drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory Study March 2017	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for registration: 23 Dec 2016	Report
NORMAN Collaborative Trial - Detection and quantification of polar compounds by means of chromatography (quantitatively and qualitatively) Organised by: TUM (DE), KWR (NL), UoA (GR)	Collaborative Trial (1 round) September 2016 - October 2016	Invitation letter	Deadline for registration: 5 Aug 2016
Proficiency test 5/16 TW S2 – Pharmaceuticals in drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory Study (1 round) 11 Oct 2016 - 7 Nov 2016	Invitation letter Registration form	Deadline for registration: 1 Jul 2016	Report
Proficiency test 2/16 TW S1 – Sweeteners and benzotriazoles in drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory Study (1 round) 16 Feb 2016 - 29 Feb 2016	Invitation letter Registration form	Deadline for registration: 23 Dec 2015	Report
NORMAN Collaborative Trial - Non-target and suspect screening methods for organic substances in indoor dust Organised by: NILU (NO), EI (SK), TUM (DE), Uni UMEA (SE), University of Antwerpen (BE), IVL (SE), IVM (NL), RECETOX (CZ)	Collaborative Trial (1 round) December 2015 - April 2016	Invitation letter Registration form	Deadline for registration: 30 Oct 2015	Publication
Proficiency test 6/15 TW S6 – X-ray- and MRI-contrast media in drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory Study (1 round) Oct –Nov 2015	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for registration: 31 Aug 2015	Report
Proficiency test 2/15 TW S5 – Sulfonylurea herbicides drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory Study (1 round) Feb –March 2015	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for registration: 31 Dec 2014	Report
NORMAN Collaborative Trial - Non-target screening of organic substances in river water Organised by: EI (SK), UFZ (DE), LfU (DE), EAWAG (CH), Uni Umea (SE)	Collaborative Trial (1 round) October 2013 - July 2014	Description of the CT	Registration: 25 November 2013 Shipment of samples: 10 December 2013 Result submission deadline: 28 February 2014	Minutes: Participant Workshop Non-target Screening Workshop
Proficiency test 2/14 TW S3 – Alkylphenols in drinking water Organised by: IWW and AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Interlaboratory Study (1 round) Feb –March 2014	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for registration: 20 Dec 2013	Report
Interlaboratory study on the determination of cytostatics in surface and wastewater Organised by: the EU-funded project CytoThreat	Interlaboratory Study (1 round) March – June 2013	Invitation letter and registration	Deadline for response: 31 Dec 2012
Interlaboratory study on the analysis of chlorinated paraffins in environmental matrices Organised by: QUASIMEME and VU	Interlaboratory Study (4 rounds) 1^st round: April – June 2011 2^nd round: December 2012 – March 2013 3^rdround: August 2014 - July 2015 4^thround: July 2016 - 15 October 2016	Invitation 1^st round/ Programme Invitation 2^nd round/ Programme Invitation 3^rd round/ Programme Invitation 4^th round/ Programme	Registration 1^st round: 15 February 2011 Registration 2^nd round: 1^st November 2012 Registration 3^rd round: 1^st October 2014 Registration 4^th round: 15 May 2016	1^st round Final Report 2^nd round Final Report 3 ^rd round Final Report 4^th round Final Report
NORMAN 1^st interlaboratory study on the analysis of organic phosphorous flame retardants (PFRs) Organised by: IVM	Interlaboratory Study with a one-day guidance workshop (9 Dec 2011) Dec 2011 – Apr 2012	Invitation Registration form	Registration (ILS): 31 Dec 2011 Shipment of samples to participants: 15 Jan 2012 Submission of results: 30 Apr 2012	Final Report
PHARMAS Interlaboratory study for the determination of antibiotics in resources and drinking water Organised by: LERES	Interlaboratory Study (1 round) September 2011	Invitation ILS programme	Registration 30 June 2011	Final report
Interlaboratory study on passive sampling of emerging pollutants - CM Onsite organised by NORMAN and JRC in support of CIS WFD Organised by: WRI	Interlaboratory Study (1 round with 3 campaigns) May – June 2011	Invitation Programme	Registration 31^st March 2011
AQS PT Round PT 2/10 TW O5 - Special organic analytes in drinking water - metabolites of pesticides http://www.iswa.uni-stuttgart.de/ch/aqs/index_en.html	Inter-laboratory comparison exercise March 2010	Invitation Programme	29 Jan 2010	Final report
Passive samplers intercalibration exercise Organised by: AQUAREF (followed by a complementary passive sampler intercalibration organised by NORMAN in 2011).	Inter-laboratory comparison exercise April - June 2010	Programme Registration	25 Jan 2010
3^rd Interlaboratory study on perfluorinated compounds in water, fish and sludge Organised by: NORMAN and QUASIMEME (IVM-VU University, Amsterdam)	Inter-laboratory comparison exercise March - June 2009	Invitation Programme	15 June 2009	Final Report
Sucralose in sewage treatment plant effluents and surface water Organised by: IVL (Sweden) in cooperation with NORMAN	Inter-laboratory comparison exercise June - October 2008	Invitation letter	1 June 2008	Summary report included in the NORMAN Bulletin N°1
Perfluorinated compounds in water and fish Organised by: PERFORCE (IVM-VU University, Amsterdam)	Inter-laboratory comparison exercise 01 April-30 June 2007	Programme	30 June 2007	Report Summary
PBDE in dust Round 2 inter-laboratory study Organised by: NORMAN IVM	Inter-laboratory comparison exercise Jan 08 - Feb 08	Minutes Protocol	Completion in Jan 08	Report
PBDE in dust Round 1 inter-laboratory study Organised by: NORMAN UBA	Inter-laboratory comparison exercise Oct 06 - Dec 06	Protocol	Completion in Dec 06	Report
NSAID in water Round 2 inter-laboratory study Organised by: NORMAN JSI	Inter-laboratory comparison study exercise Oct 07 – Dec 07	Programme Minutes Protocols Instructions	Completion in Dec 07	Report
NSAID in water Round 1 inter-laboratory study Organised by: NORMAN CSIC	Inter-laboratory comparison exercise Oct 06 – Dec 06	Programme Programme	Completion in Dec 06	Report
Oestrogens in water Round 1 inter-laboratory study Organised by: NORMAN UKEA	Inter-laboratory comparison exercise Feb 07 – May 07	Programme 1 Programme 2	Completion in Feb 07	Report
Topic	Event	Programme	Deadline	Reports

NORMAN

Network of reference laboratories, research centres and related organisations for monitoring of emerging environmental substances

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