A previous study carried out under the VAM Programme (Report on the potential to establish proficiency testing for out-of-laboratory measurements, N Boley, D Woods & P Bedson, LGC/VAM/1998/078, December 1998) concluded that the establishment of a PT scheme covering out-of-laboratory measurements in the contaminated land sector would be feasible. This was supported by the views of a number of key players in this sector, including test kit manufacturers, environmental consultants and organisations carrying out such measurements.

However, attempts to take the recommendations of the feasibility study forward have met with limited success and it has not been possible to establish a scheme. This report describes the actions taken by LGC to develop a PT scheme. It also describes the response to these actions and explores some of barriers to establishment of a PT scheme at the current time.