Technical Manager: Rafael Salas, Observatorio Canario de algas nocivas

International Phytoplankton Intercomparision (IPI)

ANNOUNCEMENT:- Registration is now open for the 2022 programme (Please note the deadline to apply has now passed) 

Registration for the International Phytoplankton Intercalibration (IPI) programme 2022 is now open through the website portal www.iphyi.org

The schedule for 2022 and all other info about the programme can be found there. The programme continues to be offered at the the Canary Islands HAB observatory (OCHABs) at the University of Las Palmas, in Gran Canaria, Spain, from where the IPI will be coordinated and run for the next 4 years.

Our calendar for 2022 is as follows:

Deadline for Registration: 29th April 2022

Samples sent to analysts + Taxonomy Knowledge assessment (online HAB Quiz in 'Ocean Teacher')  opens 6th June 2022

Deadline for submission of samples and online test results to lead laboratory: 16th September 2022

Intercalibration Report and Workshop 30th November 2022

The IPI exercise is organised by Rafael Salas (Observatario Canario de algas nocivas) and Jacob Larsen (IOC Science and Communication Centre on Harmful Algae) in collaboration with Claudia Delgado (IODE office).  You can also e-mail me directly if you want to be included in future mailing about this test please contact rsalas@observatoriocanariohabs.com

The International Phytoplankton Intercomparison (IPI) is an international partnership to provide enumeration and identification quality assurance in marine phytoplankton. It was formerly part of the now concluded EU initiative Biological Effects Quality Assurance in Monitoring Programmes (BEQUALM) since 2005. The IPI did implement its intercomparison exercises through the Marine Institute Ireland in cooperation with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC) through its Science and Communication Centre on Harmful Algae at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. 

From 2021 to 2025, the IPI Proficiency Testing scheme in abundance and composition of marine microalgae programme moves to the Canary Islands Harmful Algal Observatory (OCHABs) in the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Spain.  The UK NE Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control Scheme (NMBAQC) is one of our partners. They have been associated with the IPI scheme (formerly Bequalm) since the beginning in 2005 as the umbrella group for UK laboratories participating in phytoplankton intercomparison exercises under community analysis.

The IPI operates according to the ISO standards 17043 Conformity assessment-General requirements for proficiency testing and ISO13528 Statistical methods for use in proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparisons. We are currently applying for accreditation for 2017 under ISO17043 to the Irish national Accreditation Board (INAB) for the IPI to be accredited as a proficiency testing scheme. The IPI is a partnership of agencies, quality control entities and organizations with interest in phytoplankton monitoring and quality control. Partnership will allow for endorsement on IPI certificates of proficiency by national or regional partners where this will enhance the value of certificates to participants in the proficiency testing.

More information can be found on the website: https://www.iphyi.org