Where should lead dust wipe samples be submitted for analysis?

• A. An EPA-recognized lab from the National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP)
• B. A city water testing lab
• C. A private environmental consulting firm
• D. The local hardware store

Answer: (A)

Lead dust wipe analysis must be performed by a lab that has demonstrated competency in lead testing and QA/QC through formal accreditation. Submitting samples to an EPA-recognized lab under the National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP) guarantees that the lab uses validated methods for wipe samples, participates in proficiency testing, and maintains strict QA/QC procedures. This accreditation also ensures proper chain-of-custody, reporting standards, and appropriate detection limits, so the results are credible and acceptable to regulatory agencies, health programs, and anyone else making decisions based on the data. Labs that are not NLLAP-recognized—such as a general city water lab, a private consulting firm without that accreditation, or a hardware store—may not provide the same level of method validation and QA, making their results less reliable for lead risk assessment and regulatory purposes.