(1) Laboratories shall maintain analytical performance according to Volume 1 of the TNI Standards, referenced in Fl. Admin. Code R. 64E-1.0015, for those Fields of Accreditation (i.e., Matrix category group-test method-analyte combinations), for which they have been certified or are seeking certification, through demonstrations of capability performed annually or within the past year, respectively. Each certified laboratory shall maintain the documentation required in Volume 1, Module 2 of the TNI Standards and comply with the laboratory report format and content requirements in Section 5.10 of Volume 1, Module 2 of the TNI Standards.
    (2) For compliance with the Florida Safe Drinking Water Act, the laboratory will report the information described in Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-550.730(2)(a), December 30, 2011, incorporated herein by reference and available at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-09890, in the appropriate format approved by the Department of Environmental Protection.
    (a) The laboratory may report presumptive positive microbiological results immediately without waiting for total coliform confirmation. The laboratory shall report confirmed positive total coliform results to the supplier of water no later than the end of the next business day after confirmed positive total coliform results are determined. The laboratory shall report positive fecal coliform or E. coli results to the supplier of water by the end of the day when the results are determined, unless the results are determined after the water supplier’s office is closed, in which case the laboratory shall report the results to the water supplier before the end of the next business day. If a laboratory invalidates a sample due to heterotrophic interference as described in Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-550.518(9)(b), July 7, 2015, incorporated herein by reference and available at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-09891, the replacement sample must be analyzed by a Department of Health (DOH)-certified laboratory using a method less susceptible to heterotrophic interference (e.g., MMO-MUG).
    (b) Whenever a sample result, or the average of the results from an initial sample and a confirmation sample, exceeds the maximum contaminant level for nitrate, nitrite, or total nitrate-nitrite, the laboratory shall report the result to the supplier of water by the end of the day when the result was determined, unless the result was determined after the water supplier’s office is closed, in which case the laboratory shall report the result to the water supplier before the end of the next business day.
    (c) Whenever a sample result exceeds the maximum contaminant level for any other contaminant listed in Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-550.310, July 7, 2015, or in Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-550.320, November 27, 2001, which are incorporated herein by reference and available at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-09892 and https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-09893, the laboratory shall report the result to the supplier of water no later than the end of the next business day after the result was determined.
    (d) For the purposes of this chapter, a result is considered determined when the laboratory director or his/her designee signs or authenticates the report with the results. The results shall be reported in such a manner that the supplier of water receives the results within the indicated timeframes in paragraphs (2)(a) through (c) of this rule.
Rulemaking Authority 381.00591, 403.0625(3), 403.863(1), (2) FS. Law Implemented 381.00591, 403.0625(1), (2), (3), 403.851, 403.863(1), (2), (3), (7), 403.8635(1), (2) FS. History-New 4-22-79, Amended 3-7-85, Formerly 10D-41.59, Amended 11-14-90, 8-5-93, 4-19-95, 4-25-96, Formerly 10D-41.059, Amended 4-16-00, 6-30-03, 1-24-05, 9-26-18.