Contents of the ASCII BSP error measurements files Version 1.0 01/22/97 Each of seven files contains Blind Sample Program (BSP) water- quality reference sample measurements and estimates of error for the period 1985-95. See the accompanying Open-File Report for a complete discussion of the characteristics of the BSP data and statistical methods for using these data to estimate laboratory measurement bias and to assist in the interpretation of WQN stream water- quality data. The filename is BIAS.ttt where ttt is a unique 3-character code identifying the constituent group listed in the file BSP_PARM.DAT, and given as follows: MJ1 for major dissolved ions, MJ2 for major dissolved ions, NUT for nutrients, MT1 for dissolved trace metal parameters, MT2 for dissolved trace metal parameters, MT3 for dissolved trace metal parameters, MT4 for dissolved trace metal parameters. The records are sorted by login date and the BSP sample mix number. A missing value indicator consist of a negative sign and sufficient values of '9' to fill the specified field width--for example, -99999.99 would be used for the MPV value. The first 23 characters of each data file contain the following information: Columns Format Contents 1-4 I4 Sample laboratory login year 5-6 I2 Sample laboratory login month 7-8 I2 Sample laboratory login day 9-20 A12 BSP unique mixture number 21-23 I3 A sequence number indicating the number of BSP samples with an identical mix analyzed on the same day. The remaining portion of each record gives the constituent specific information consisting of the laboratory measurement, the MPV ("most probable value") of the BSP sample, the NSD (number of standard deviations) value, and the estimated measurement error and its associated remark value. The laboratory measurement error is computed as the difference between the laboratory measurement and the MPV of the reference sample, expressed as a percent of the MPV. For remarked values, the error is computed by expressing the reporting limit as a percentage of the MPV (a negative sign is assigned to error values where a negative difference is obtained between the laboratory measurement and the MPV). The error remark code ("<") identifies error values, in absolute units, that are less than or equal to the method reporting limit. Constituent group name: NUT Columns Format Contents 24-31 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DNH4, 00608, Nitrogen, ammonia, dissolved (mg/L as N) 32-39 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DNH4, 00608, Nitrogen, ammonia, dissolved (mg/L as N) 40-45 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DNH4, 00608, Nitrogen, ammonia, dissolved (mg/L as N) 46-53 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DNH4, 00608, Nitrogen, ammonia, dissolved (mg/L as N) 54 A1 Error remark code, DNH4, 00608, Nitrogen, ammonia, dissolved (mg/L as N) 55-62 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DKJN, 00623, Nitrogen, ammonia + organic, dissolved (mg/L as N) 63-70 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DKJN, 00623, Nitrogen, ammonia + organic, dissolved (mg/L as N) 71-76 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DKJN, 00623, Nitrogen, ammonia + organic, dissolved (mg/L as N) 77-84 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DKJN, 00623, Nitrogen, ammonia + organic, dissolved (mg/L as N) 85 A1 Error remark code, DKJN, 00623, Nitrogen, ammonia + organic, dissolved (mg/L as N) 86-93 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DNO3, 00631, Nitrogen, nitrate + nitrite, dissolved (mg/L as N) 94-101 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DNO3, 00631, Nitrogen, nitrate + nitrite, dissolved (mg/L as N) 102-107 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DNO3, 00631, Nitrogen, nitrate + nitrite, dissolved (mg/L as N) 108-115 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DNO3, 00631, Nitrogen, nitrate + nitrite, dissolved (mg/L as N) 116 A1 Error remark code, DNO3, 00631, Nitrogen, nitrate + nitrite, dissolved (mg/L as N) 117-124 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DP, 00666, Phosphorus, dissolved (mg/L as P) 125-132 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DP, 00666, Phosphorus, dissolved (mg/L as P) 133-138 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DP, 00666, Phosphorus, dissolved (mg/L as P) 139-146 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DP, 00666, Phosphorus, dissolved (mg/L as P) 147 A1 Error remark code, DP, 00666, Phosphorus, dissolved (mg/L as P), 00666, Phosphorus, dissolved (mg/L as P) 148-155 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DORTHO, 00671, Phosphorus, orthophosphate, dissolved (mg/L as P) 156-163 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DORTHO, 00671, Phosphorus, orthophosphate, dissolved (mg/L as P) 164-169 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DORTHO, 00671, Phosphorus, orthophosphate, dissolved (mg/L as P) 170-177 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DORTHO, 00671, Phosphorus, orthophosphate, dissolved (mg/L as P) 178 A1 Error remark code, DORTHO, 00671, Phosphorus, orthophosphate, dissolved (mg/L as P) Constituent group name: MJ1 Columns Format Contents 24-31 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, CA, 00915, Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 32-39 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), CA, 00915, Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 40-45 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), CA, 00915, Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 46-53 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, CA, 00915, Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 54 A1 Error remark code, CA, 00915, Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 55-62 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, CL, 00940, Chloride, dissolved (mg/L as Cl) 63-70 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), CL, 00940, Chloride, dissolved (mg/L as Cl) 71-76 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), CL, 00940, Chloride, dissolved (mg/L as Cl) 77-84 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, CL, 00940, Chloride, dissolved (mg/L as Cl) 85 A1 Error remark code, CL, 00940, Chloride, dissolved (mg/L as Cl) 86-93 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DSROE, 70300, Dissolved solids (residue on evaporation *180C.) (mg/L) 94-101 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DSROE, 70300, Dissolved solids (residue on evaporation *180C.) (mg/L) 102-107 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DSROE, 70300, Dissolved solids (residue on evaporation *180C.) (mg/L) 108-115 F8.2 Estimatedmeasurement errors in percent, DSROE, 70300, Dissolved solids (residue on evaporation *180C.) (mg/L) 116 A1 Error remark code, DSROE, 70300, Dissolved solids (residue on evaporation *180C.) (mg/L) 117-124 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, MG, 00925, Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 125-132 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), MG, 00925, Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 133-138 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), MG, 00925, Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 139-146 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, MG, 00925, Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 147 A1 Error remark code, MG, 00925, Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 148-155 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, K, 00935, Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 156-163 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), K, 00935, Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 164-169 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), K, 00935, Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 170-177 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, K, 00935, Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 178 A1 Error remark code, K, 00935, Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) Constituent group name: MJ2 Columns Format Contents 24-31 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, SIO2, 00955, Silica, dissolved (mg/L as SiO2) 32-39 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), SIO2, 00955, Silica, dissolved (mg/L as SiO2) 40-45 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), SIO2, 00955, Silica, dissolved (mg/L as SiO2) 46-53 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, SIO2, 00955, Silica, dissolved (mg/L as SiO2) 54 A1 Error remark code, SIO2, 00955, Silica, dissolved (mg/L as SiO2) 55-62 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, NA, 00930, Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 63-70 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), NA, 00930, Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 71-76 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), NA, 00930, Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 77-84 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, NA, 00930, Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 85 A1 Error remark code, NA, 00930, Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 86-93 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, SO4, 00945, Sulfate, dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 94-101 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), SO4, 00945, Sulfate, dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 102-107 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), SO4, 00945, Sulfate, dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 108-115 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, SO4, 00945, Sulfate, dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 116 A1 Error remark code, SO4, 00945, Sulfate, dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 117-124 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, FL, 00950, Fluoride, dissolved (mg/L as Fl) 125-132 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), FL, 00950, Fluoride, dissolved (mg/L as Fl) 133-138 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), FL, 00950, Fluoride, dissolved (mg/L as Fl) 139-146 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, FL, 00950, Fluoride, dissolved (mg/L as Fl) 147 A1 Error remark code, FL, 00950, Fluoride, dissolved (mg/L as Fl) Constituent group name: MT1 Columns Format Contents 24-31 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DAL, 01106, Aluminum, dissolved (ug/L as Al) 32-39 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DAL, 01106, Aluminum, dissolved (ug/L as Al) 40-45 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DAL, 01106, Aluminum, dissolved (ug/L as Al) 46-53 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DAL, 01106, Aluminum, dissolved (ug/L as Al) 54 A1 Error remark code, DAL, 01106, Aluminum, dissolved (ug/L as Al) 55-62 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DAS, 01000, Arsenic, dissolved (ug/L as As) 63-70 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DAS, 01000, Arsenic, dissolved (ug/L as As) 71-76 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DAS, 01000, Arsenic, dissolved (ug/L as As) 77-84 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DAS, 01000, Arsenic, dissolved (ug/L as As) 85 A1 Error remark code, DAS, 01000, Arsenic, dissolved (ug/L as As) 86-93 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DBA, 01005, Barium, dissolved (ug/L as Ba) 94-101 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DBA, 01005, Barium, dissolved (ug/L as Ba) 102-107 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DBA, 01005, Barium, dissolved (ug/L as Ba) 108-115 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DBA, 01005, Barium, dissolved (ug/L as Ba) 116 A1 Error remark code, DBA, 01005, Barium, dissolved (ug/L as Ba) 117-124 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DBE, 01010, Beryllium, dissolved (ug/L as Be) 125-132 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DBE, 01010, Beryllium, dissolved (ug/L as Be) 133-138 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DBE, 01010, Beryllium, dissolved (ug/L as Be) 139-146 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DBE, 01010, Beryllium, dissolved (ug/L as Be) 147 A1 Error remark code, DBE, 01010, Beryllium, dissolved (ug/L as Be) 148-155 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DB, 01020, Boron, dissolved (ug/L as B) 156-163 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DB, 01020, Boron, dissolved (ug/L as B) 164-169 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DB, 01020, Boron, dissolved (ug/L as B) 170-177 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DB, 01020, Boron, dissolved (ug/L as B) 178 A1 Error remark code, DB, 01020, Boron, dissolved (ug/L as B) Constituent group name: MT2 Columns Format Contents 24-31 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DCD, 01025, Cadmium, dissolved (ug/L as Cd) 32-39 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DCD, 01025, Cadmium, dissolved (ug/L as Cd) 40-45 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DCD, 01025, Cadmium, dissolved (ug/L as Cd) 46-53 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DCD, 01025, Cadmium, dissolved (ug/L as Cd) 54 A1 Error remark code, DCD, 01025, Cadmium, dissolved (ug/L as Cd) 55-62 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DCR, 01030, Chromium, dissolved (ug/L as Cr) 63-70 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DCR, 01030, Chromium, dissolved (ug/L as Cr) 71-76 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DCR, 01030, Chromium, dissolved (ug/L as Cr) 77-84 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DCR, 01030, Chromium, dissolved (ug/L as Cr) 85 A1 Error remark code, DCR, 01030, Chromium, dissolved (ug/L as Cr) 86-93 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DCO, 01035, Cobalt, dissolved (ug/L as Co) 94-101 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DCO, 01035, Cobalt, dissolved (ug/L as Co) 102-107 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DCO, 01035, Cobalt, dissolved (ug/L as Co) 108-115 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DCO, 01035, Cobalt, dissolved (ug/L as Co) 116 A1 Error remark code, DCO, 01035, Cobalt, dissolved (ug/L as Co) 117-124 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DCU, 01040, Copper, dissolved (ug/L as Cu) 125-132 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DCU, 01040, Copper, dissolved (ug/L as Cu) 133-138 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DCU, 01040, Copper, dissolved (ug/L as Cu) 139-146 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DCU, 01040, Copper, dissolved (ug/L as Cu) 147 A1 Error remark code, DCU, 01040, Copper, dissolved (ug/L as Cu) 148-155 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DFE, 01046, Iron, dissolved (ug/L as Fe) 156-163 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DFE, 01046, Iron, dissolved (ug/L as Fe) 164-169 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DFE, 01046, Iron, dissolved (ug/L as Fe) 170-177 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DFE, 01046, Iron, dissolved (ug/L as Fe) 178 A1 Error remark code, DFE, 01046, Iron, dissolved (ug/L as Fe) Constituent group name: MT3 Columns Format Contents 24-31 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DPB, 01049, Lead, dissolved (ug/L as Pb) 32-39 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DPB, 01049, Lead, dissolved (ug/L as Pb) 40-45 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DPB, 01049, Lead, dissolved (ug/L as Pb) 46-53 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DPB, 01049, Lead, dissolved (ug/L as Pb) 54 A1 Error remark code, DPB, 01049, Lead, dissolved (ug/L as Pb) 55-62 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DLI, 01130, Lithium, dissolved (ug/L as Li) 63-70 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DLI, 01130, Lithium, dissolved (ug/L as Li) 71-76 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DLI, 01130, Lithium, dissolved (ug/L as Li) 77-84 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DLI, 01130, Lithium, dissolved (ug/L as Li) 85 A1 Error remark code, DLI, 01130, Lithium, dissolved (ug/L as Li) 86-93 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DMN, 01056, Manganese, dissolved (ug/L as Mn) 94-101 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DMN, 01056, Manganese, dissolved (ug/L as Mn) 102-107 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DMN, 01056, Manganese, dissolved (ug/L as Mn) 108-115 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DMN, 01056, Manganese, dissolved (ug/L as Mn) 116 A1 Error remark code, DMN, 01056, Manganese, dissolved (ug/L as Mn) 117-124 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DHG, 71890, Mercury, dissolved (ug/L as Hg) 125-132 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DHG, 71890, Mercury, dissolved (ug/L as Hg) 133-138 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DHG, 71890, Mercury, dissolved (ug/L as Hg) 139-146 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DHG, 71890, Mercury, dissolved (ug/L as Hg) 147 A1 Error remark code, DHG, 71890, Mercury, dissolved (ug/L as Hg) 148-155 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DMO, 01060, Molybdenum, dissolved (ug/L as Mo) 156-163 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DMO, 01060, Molybdenum, dissolved (ug/L as Mo) 164-169 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DMO, 01060, Molybdenum, dissolved (ug/L as Mo) 170-177 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DMO, 01060, Molybdenum, dissolved (ug/L as Mo) 178 A1 Error remark code, DMO, 01060, Molybdenum, dissolved (ug/L as Mo) Constituent group name: MT4 Columns Format Contents 24-31 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DNI, 01065, Nickel, dissolved (ug/L as Ni) 32-39 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DNI, 01065, Nickel, dissolved (ug/L as Ni) 40-45 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DNI, 01065, Nickel, dissolved (ug/L as Ni) 46-53 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DNI, 01065, Nickel, dissolved (ug/L as Ni) 54 A1 Error remark code, DNI, 01065, Nickel, dissolved (ug/L as Ni) 55-62 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DSE, 01145, Selenium, dissolved (ug/L as Se) 63-70 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DSE, 01145, Selenium, dissolved (ug/L as Se) 71-76 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DSE, 01145, Selenium, dissolved (ug/L as Se) 77-84 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DSE, 01145, Selenium, dissolved (ug/L as Se) 85 A1 Error remark code, DSE, 01145, Selenium, dissolved (ug/L as Se) 86-93 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DAG, 01075, Silver, dissolved (ug/L as Ag) 94-101 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DAG, 01075, Silver, dissolved (ug/L as Ag) 102-107 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DAG, 01075, Silver, dissolved (ug/L as Ag) 108-115 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DAG, 01075, Silver, dissolved (ug/L as Ag) 116 A1 Error remark code, DAG, 01075, Silver, dissolved (ug/L as Ag) 117-124 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DSR, 01080, Strontium, dissolved (ug/L as Sr) 125-132 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DSR, 01080, Strontium, dissolved (ug/L as Sr) 133-138 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DSR, 01080, Strontium, dissolved (ug/L as Sr) 139-146 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DSR, 01080, Strontium, dissolved (ug/L as Sr) 147 A1 Error remark code, DSR, 01080, Strontium, dissolved (ug/L as Sr) 148-155 F8.2 Laboratory measurement value, DZN, 01090, Zinc, dissolved (ug/L as Zn) 156-163 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DZN, 01090, Zinc, dissolved (ug/L as Zn) 164-169 F6.2 BSP NSD (number of standard deviations), DZN, 01090, Zinc, dissolved (ug/L as Zn) 170-177 F8.2 Laboratory measurement error in percent, DZN, 01090, Zinc, dissolved (ug/L as Zn) 178 A1 Error remark code, DZN, 01090, Zinc, dissolved (ug/L as Zn) Format descriptions: In an integer field n columns wide. F8.x a real (float) field 8 columns wide with x decimal places to the right of the decimal point. An a character field n columns wide. 1X a single blank column.