Right Solutions • Right Partnerwww.alsglobal.com

Continued on reverse side...

Connect with us!

• On-time data delivery and rapid TAT• Experienced staff with expertise • Available after-hours and weekends

SERVICE

VALUE

RELIABILITY

• Instant access to data with Webtrieve™ and Webtrieve™ Mobile App

• Custom bottle kits with pre-printed labels and COCs

• Technical experts that can answer your most difficult questions

• A real focus on quality and process control with a rigorous QA/QC program

Visit our website for more information about ALS.

Get Connected!

Scan the QR Code with your smartphone or search for “ALS Environmental” on YouTube.

Significant figures (or significant digits) are those digits in a number that are meaningful, and which contribute to its accuracy.

By convention, analytical test results are rounded to prevent misleading impressions of precision. With this in mind, rounding protocols must be carefully designed so they do not inadvertently cause the loss of relevant and potentially important information.

Most chemical measurement devices are capable of producing test results with up to three significant figures, where the first two digits are known with a reasonable degree of certainty, and the third is uncertain. Because Measurement Uncertainty (MU) increases with proximity to the detection limit (when expressed as a percentage of the result), it is appropriate to reduce the number of significant figures retained for low concentration test results (see representatiive illustrations below).

ALS laboratories in Canada report most analytical results with two significant digits at our Limit of Reporting (LOR), increasing to a maximum of three significant digits at higher concentrations. The LOR is the detection limit that appears on our reports (also referred to as the Reporting Limit).

This protocol is intended to serve our clients’ needs by minimizing the degree to which rounding can influence whether a result meets or fails a regulatory limit. The policy also conforms to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard E29: “Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications”.

Examples of Significant Figure Protocol

MeasuredResult (Unrounded)

Limit of Reporting (LOR)

Reported Result

0.01513... 0.010 0.015

0.02466... 0.010 0.025

0.2466... 0.010 0.247

2.466... 1.0 2.5

24.66... 1.0 24.7

819 58 Street East • Saskatoon, SK S7K 6X5 +1 306 668 8370

www.alsglobal.com

Protocol for Significant Figures

... continued from reverse side

Right Solutions • Right Partnerwww.alsglobal.com

Connect with us!

Exceptions to these standard rules apply for a few tests. For example, all results for pH are reported to two decimal places, and all microbiology test results are reported to one significant digit at our Limit of Reporting, increasing to a maximum of three significant digits at higher concentrations.

For more information, please contact ALS Canada Client Services: +1 800 668 9878

819 58 Street East • Saskatoon, SK S7K 6X5 +1 306 668 8370

www.alsglobal.com

Significant figures (or significant digits) are those digits in a number that are meaningful, and which contribute to its accuracy.

By convention, analytical test results are rounded to prevent misleading impressions of precision. With this in mind, rounding protocols must be carefully designed so they do not inadvertently cause the loss of relevant and potentially important information.

Most chemical measurement devices are capable of producing test results with up to three significant figures, where the first two digits are known with a reasonable degree of certainty, and the third is uncertain. Because Measurement Uncertainty (MU) increases with proximity to the detection limit (when expressed as a percentage of the result), it is appropriate to reduce the number of significant figures retained for low concentration test results (see representatiive illustrations below).

Measurement Uncertainty as a Function of Concentration

ALS Environmental Division laboratories in Canada report most analytical results with two significant digits at our Limit of Reporting (LOR), increasing to a maximum of three significant digits at higher concentrations.

The LOR is the detection limit that appears on our reports (also referred to as the Reporting Limit).

This protocol is intended to serve our clients’ needs by minimizing the degree to which rounding can influence whether a result meets or fails a regulatory limit. The policy also conforms to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard E29: “Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications”.

Examples of New Significant Figure ProtocolMeasured

Result(Unrounded)Limit of Reporting

(LOR)Reported Result

0.01513… 0.010 0.015

0.02466… 0.010 0.025

0.2466… 0.010 0.247

2.466… 1.0 2.5

24.66… 1.0 24.7

Exceptions to these standard rules apply for a few tests. For example, all results for pH are reported to two decimal places, and all microbiology test results are reported to one significant digit at our Limit of Reporting, increasing to a maximum of three significant digits at higher concentrations.

For further information please call ALS Client Services at 1-800-668-9878

Right solution........Right partner

www.alsenviro.com

April 1, 2009

Significant figures (or significant digits) are those digits in a number that are meaningful, and which contribute to its accuracy.

By convention, analytical test results are rounded to prevent misleading impressions of precision. With this in mind, rounding protocols must be carefully designed so they do not inadvertently cause the loss of relevant and potentially important information.

Most chemical measurement devices are capable of producing test results with up to three significant figures, where the first two digits are known with a reasonable degree of certainty, and the third is uncertain. Because Measurement Uncertainty (MU) increases with proximity to the detection limit (when expressed as a percentage of the result), it is appropriate to reduce the number of significant figures retained for low concentration test results (see representatiive illustrations below).

Measurement Uncertainty as a Function of Concentration

ALS Environmental Division laboratories in Canada report most analytical results with two significant digits at our Limit of Reporting (LOR), increasing to a maximum of three significant digits at higher concentrations.

The LOR is the detection limit that appears on our reports (also referred to as the Reporting Limit).

This protocol is intended to serve our clients’ needs by minimizing the degree to which rounding can influence whether a result meets or fails a regulatory limit. The policy also conforms to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard E29: “Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications”.

Examples of New Significant Figure ProtocolMeasured

Result(Unrounded)Limit of Reporting

(LOR)Reported Result

0.01513… 0.010 0.015

0.02466… 0.010 0.025

0.2466… 0.010 0.247

2.466… 1.0 2.5

24.66… 1.0 24.7

Exceptions to these standard rules apply for a few tests. For example, all results for pH are reported to two decimal places, and all microbiology test results are reported to one significant digit at our Limit of Reporting, increasing to a maximum of three significant digits at higher concentrations.

For further information please call ALS Client Services at 1-800-668-9878

Right solution........Right partner

www.alsenviro.com

April 1, 2009