QA activities include which of the following?

• A. Only technical assessments
• B. Only management assessments
• C. Technical and management assessments of field and analytical operations
• D. None of the above

Answer: (C)

Quality assurance activities cover both how well the technical work is performed and how that work is governed and documented. On the technical side, QA looks at instrument calibration, method validation, accuracy, precision, and the use of control samples to ensure the data are trustworthy. On the management side, QA includes adherence to standard operating procedures, proper training, thorough documentation, audits, and overall process controls. This scope applies to both field sampling and analytical operations, ensuring data quality from collection through analysis to reporting. Limiting QA to only technical checks would miss important governance aspects, while focusing only on management would neglect the actual performance and reliability of the measurements. Therefore, QA activities encompass both technical and management assessments across field and analytical operations.