NL-03-1267, Report of Unsatisfactory Performance Testing
| ML031760556 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hatch, Vogtle, Farley  |
| Issue date: | 06/23/2003 |
| From: | Beasley J Southern Nuclear Operating Co |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NL-03-1267 | |
| Download: ML031760556 (3) | |
Text
J. Barnie Beasley, Jr., P.E.
Southern Nuclear Vice President Operating Company, Inc.
40 Inverness Center Parkway Post Office Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201 Tel 205.992.7110 Fax 205.992.0341 4
SOUTHERNANA COMPANY Energy to Serve Your Wo rid NL-03-1267 June 23, 2003 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATITN: Document Control Desk Washington, D. C. 20555-0001 Southern Nuclear Operating Company Report of Unsatisfactory Performance Testing Ladies and Gentlemen:
In accordance with 10 CFR Part 26, Appendix A, paragraph 2.8, Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC), the licensed operator for the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant and the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, requires that blind performance test specimens be submitted to a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) certified laboratory for testing. On May 5, 2003, specimen C030186 was received at Doctors Laboratory, Inc. in Valdosta, Georgia as a blind specimen from the corporate office of SNC in Birmingham, AL. The blind performance specimen had been prepared and certified by ElSohly Laboratory as spiked with Phencyclidine (PCP).
The specimen in question was received and tested by Doctors Laboratory, Inc. on May 5, 2003. The specimen was screened as negative for all analytes. SNC notified Doctors Laboratory, Inc. on May 9, 2003 that a false negative blind performance error had occurred and requested re-testing and an immediate investigation.
Doctors Laboratory, Inc. re-tested the specimen and reported a positive result for PCP on June 3, 2003, with a memo detailing the investigation and the resulting disciplinary actions taken. Human error by an employee-in-training was the cause of the false negative.
The findings of Doctors Laboratory, Inc. are enclosed. The investigation shows no evidence of any systematic failure or fault that might be considered likely to produce the sort of error observed in the testing of this specimen.
SNC has utilized Doctors Laboratory, Inc. since August 2001. The laboratory reports high proficiency performance scores on HHS proficiency testing and nothing in the report indicates additional corrective action is required. Therefore, SNC submits this letter to satisfy the reporting requirements of 10 CFR Part 26 Appendix A, paragraph 2.8.
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NL 1267 Page 2 Should you have any further questions, please advise.
Sincerely,
. B. Beasley,J.
JBB/ANP
Enclosure:
Doctors Laboratory, Inc. Report dated June 3, 2003.
cc:
Southern Nuclear Operating Company Mr. J. D. Woodard, Executive Vice President Mr. J. W. Averett, Vice President - Administrative Services Document Services RTYPE: CGA02.001
Enclosure to NL-03-1267 Page 1 of 1 DOCTORS LABORATORY, INC.
RONALD R. ZIMMERMAN, D.O.
chier Pashoogljst ROYH.TRUCKS SUPRANEE DF.E M.D.
Cldf lulive r
Cytoprnitlogifsl I3YBN S. DAVIS, M.D.
rRANK J. RAVEMO, M.D.
Chairman of the Bo.rd OeiieW fhoogit DAVID R. DAHLEINURC. M.D.
RONALD R. SUMMERMAN. D.O.
Onclojy S it Medical Dlrc=ot CURTIS R. LIU. MD.
HcmaEoputhouIogi MANOJLCUMAR PATEIL, M.D.
DcmrlaropwhoiogIac June 3, 2003 Billie Rooks Soutbern Nuclear 40 Invernss Ctr. Pkwy.
Bimingham, AL 35242 205.995.6092
Dear Ms. Rooks:
Our investigation into the discrepant results for the specimen collected on chain of custody 120883, our laboratory number 05640763, pationt numbcr C030186, is complete. The specimen was incorrectly reported as negative. The correct result is PCP positive.
A review of the rcords yielded the following: Ilhe specimen was rcived in the laboratory on 5/5/2003. The initial testing indicated the specimen was reactive for PCP and was sent for confrrnatory testing, The result of the OCMS testing showed the presence of intemal standard (indicating a valid extraction) without PCP. The specimen was reported as negative, a false result After you notified DLI that the specimen was a blind quality control samplc, the specimen was retrieved from long term storage, thawed, and sent for confirmation.
'hc result of this analysis was positive PCP.
These findings allowed thc location of the error to be determined as occurring during aliquoting for confirmation. The person who perforned the aliquoting was a new employcc, with the company for less than two months. The person checking the work was a long tenn employee. The pcrson who assigned thc new employee to this sensitivc position is an experienced team lcader. All the above personnel will receive disciplinary action.
siC>
I AS I/
2906 RJUA DRIVE
- PO BOX 4750
- VALDOSTA, GA 31604 (229) 244-4465 - IAX (229) 249-S1I on