ESdat Electronic Lab Data Format 4

Understand the ESdat ELDF in Minutes

Learn how the ESdat Environmental Data Management System works, its file components, and how it simplifies environmental data workflows.

Other file formats that facilitate advanced integration of eCOC and eSRN information between the laboratory and ESdat are also available. See LSPECS Integration

ELDF 4 extends ELDF 2e in order to accommodate additional QA information. To upgrade from ELDF2e to ELDF see Converting ELDF 2e to ELDF 4.

ELDF files:

The ELDF files contain laboratory report, sample and result information, including comprehensive quality assurance data. The ELDF consists of three files:

Header File

Sample File

Chemistry File (which contains the results).

The file names are of the format: Project Name as provided by the users; a full stop; a laboratory file identifier; a full stop; the text “ESdatHeader”, “ESdatSample4” or “ESdatChemistry4” as appropriate and the file extension (“.xml” or “.csv” as appropriate). An example of a file set would be

Project1.LabFile01.ESdatHeader.xml

Project1.LabFile01.ESdatSample4.csv

Project1.LabFile01.ESdatChemistry4.csv

COC and COA in PDF Format as well as other files usually provided by the laboratory.

Sample File:

Within the csv export files Line 1 lists the data fields, line 2 and onwards contains the data for those fields:
One record for each field and laboratory sample.

Primary Key	Field	Description	Req'd	Data Type
*	SampleCode	Unique Identifier for each sample *	Y	Text(40)
	Sampled_Date_Time	From COC		Date with optional time
	Field_ID	From COC (Normal samples only)		Text(40)
	Depth	From COC		Number or Number – (dash) Number
	Matrix_Type		Y	List of Soil, Water, Gas, SoilGas, Other or as provided on the COC
	Sample_Type	Description of sample as from the field or a lab QC sample.	Y	List of : Normal, MS, (Matrix Spike) MS_D, (Matrix Spike Duplicate) Trip_B, (Trip Blank) MB, (Method Blank) SB, (Storage Blank) LCS, (Lab Control Sample) LCS_D, (LCS Duplicate) SRM, (Standard Reference Material) CRM, (Certified Reference Material) LAB_D (Duplicate) LAB_T (Triplicate) NCP (Non-Client Parent – for duplicates or spikes from another client in the same sample analysis batch)
	Parent_Sample	For Laboratory Duplicates, or Matrix Spike Duplicates give the SampleCode of the parent sample. For Matrix Spikes give the SampleCode of the applicable non-spiked sample.		Text(40)
	SDG	Sample Delivery Group, Use the COC Number from the COC or if not available use “Lab Name Date Received”. Lab QA Samples should be given the same SDG as the field Samples, or the value should be left blank.	Y	Text(20)
	Lab_Name		Y	Text(20)
	Lab_SampleID	Laboratory Sample ID	Y	Text(20)
	Lab_Comments	Lab Comments specific to a sample	N	Text(255)
	Lab_Report_Number		Y	Text(20)

*The SampleCode should be constructed using the following syntax. [Lab_Report_Number]_[LabSampleID]. Other methods may also be used so long as each Sample (even Samples reported in a different Report) have a unique SampleCode which is < 40 characters
** The records in the file should be sorted by Sample_Type DESC. This means the "Normal" samples will appear first. A secondary sort should be by Field_ID ASC.

Chemistry File:

Within the csv export files Line 1 lists the data fields, line 2 and onwards contains the data for those fields:
One record for each result.

Primary Key	Field	Description	Req'd	Data Type
*	SampleCode	Unique Identifier for each sample (as per Sample File)	Y	Text(40)	*	ChemCode	Unique Identifier for each analyte (eg. CAS number)	Y	Text(20)
	OriginalChemName	The name for the Analyte as given in the laboratories Certificate of Analysis	Y	Text(50)
	Prefix		if below detection limit	“<” or “>”
	Result	The reported result applicable for the result unit.	Y	Number. Text is permitted for asbestos analyses or other specific results.
	Result_Unit	Should use SI Units where possible. A dash should be specified where units are not applicable, such as for pH or text results.	Y	Text(15)
*	Total_or_Filtered	Either Total or Filtered, if blank will default to T.		List of T (Total) F (Filtered)
*	Result_Type		Y	Restricted to: REG (regular result) Calc (calculated result) leached_REG (regular leached results) SUR (Surrogate) leached_SUR (leached surrogate) SC (Spike Compound) SC (Spike Compound Duplicate)
	Method_Type		Y	Text(50): PAH Pesticides Inorganic Metals… Etc as indicated on the CoC. If a suitable value isn’t available then the name of the Method is most suitable, ie for the method “EG005T: Total Metals by ICP-AES”, the Name “Total Metals by ICP-AES” or similar would be most suitable.
*	Method_Name	Method or Test Code, eg SW-846 or 8260B.	Y	Text(70)
	Extraction_Method	Method used for extraction prior to analysis	If possible	Text(70)
	Extraction_Date	Date extracted	if possible	Date
	Analysed_Date	Date analyzed	if possible	Date
*	Lab_Analysis_ID	A unique value per analysis run included in the report.	Y	Text(20)
	Lab_Preperation_Batch_ID	A unique value per sample preparation batch.	Y	Text(20)
	Lab_Analysis_Batch_ID	A unique value per analysis batch.	Y	Text(20)
	EQL	Quantitation Limit, reported in the units specified in the Detection_Limit_Units column.	Y	Number
	RDL	Reportable Detection Limit, reported in the units specified in the Detection_Limit_Units column.	N	Number
	MDL	Method Detection Limit, reported in the units specified in the Detection_Limit_Units column.	N	Number
	ODL	Other Detection Limit, for use if required in contract or client specific requirements such as the US Defense “Limit of Detection”. Reported in the units specified in the Detection_Limit_Units column.	N	Number
	Detection_Limit_Units	Units used for EQL, RDL, MDL and any other Detection/Quantitation Limit values. The Result can be reported in it’s own unit (the Result_Unit).	Y	Text(15)
	Lab_Comments	Lab Comments specific to a result.	N	Text(255)
	Lab_Qualifier*		N	Text **
	UCL	Upper Confidence Limit used for QA recoveries	N	Number
	LCL	Lower Confidence Limit used for QA recoveries	N	Number
	Dilution_Factor		N	Number
	Spike_Concentration		N	Number
	Spike_Measurement	The measured concentration of the spike or surrogate.	N	Number
	Spike_Units	Units used for Spike Concentration and Measurement	N	Text(15)
	Text_Result	Used for Non-Numeric Results, or Text accompanying a Result (such as Radiological Uncertainty)	N	Text(15)

*The Lab_Qualifier may be populated with a data qualifier (U,J,J+,J-,R,UJ) as described in various USEPA documents, for example: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-06/documents/g8-final.pdf, / Data Qualifier Definitions

** Multiple Lab Qualifiers to be separated with a semi colon ";"

Text Results

In some use cases laboratory results are not numeric but are text (such as some asbestos results), or a combination of numeric and text.

Result must be numeric for graphing or similar purposes. Text_Result is to be used for text results, or textual parts of the Result. Where the result is just text, with no numeric result a value of -997 should be reported in the Result, and the text should be reported in Text_Result.

Radiological results are sometimes reported with a result and an uncertainty such as 10±0.01. In this case the numerical result value should be reported in the Result, and the uncertainty should be reported as "± XXXX" in the Text Result. The result and the uncertainty should be in the same unit as reported in the Result_Unit.

The EQL and the detection limit units should remain as normal where available, for example, 1 g/kg.

Laboratory QA Samples

Laboratory QA Samples should report the results for each Analysis Batch for which they relate, thus if a QC sample is applicable for multiple Analysis Batches the results of that Sample should be reported for all Analysis Batch IDs for which they are applicable. Typically, field QA samples such as field duplicates, rinsates, and some field or trip spikes will be applicable to the data and not known to the laboratory. The laboratory will report these results as per all other field samples and the QA type will be specified for those samples by ESdat users.

Matrix Spikes

The Sample Type should be reported as MS.

The SampleCode of the pre-spike sample is indicated in the Parent Sample Column.

The results should be reported as per all Spike results, i.e.:
The % recovery should be reported in the Result column with Result Units of '%' and Result Type specified as MS. The Spike Concentration should be reported in the Spike_Concentration column and the Spike Measurement reported in the Spike_Measurement column. The Spike units should be reported in the Spike_Units column.

Laboratory Control Sample, Certified Reference Material, Standard Reference Material

The Sample Type should be reported as LCS, CRM, or SRM as appropriate.

The results should be reported as per all Spike results, i.e.:

The % recovery should be reported in the Result column with Result Units of '%' and Result Type specified as MS. The Spike Concentration should be reported in the Spike_Concentration column and the Spike Measurement reported in the Spike_Measurement column. The Spike units should be reported in the Spike_Units column.

Matrix Spike Duplicates and Laboratory Control Sample Duplicates

The Sample Type should be reported as MS_D or LCS_D as appropriate.

The SampleCode of the primary matrix spike sample is indicated in the Parent Sample column.

The results should be reported as per all Spike results, i.e.:

The % recovery should be reported in the Result column with Result Units of '%' and Result Type specified as MS. The spike concentration should be reported in the Spike_Concentration column and the spike measurement reported in the Spike_Measurement column. The spike units should be reported in the Spike_Units column.

The ESdat ELDF Format is a continuously maintained and evolving proprietary format for receipt of laboratory results by organizations with an active ESdat maintenance agreement, account, or subscription and the subsequent processing, storage, or other use without limitation.

Copyright in the ESdat ELDF Format and the reference lists used in conjunction with the Format reside with EarthScience Information Systems Pty Ltd.

Third-party software or other organizations wishing to use the ESdat ELDF Format for other commercial or bespoke software should contact EScIS to arrange a license agreement.

Data Analysis and Reporting

ESdat Electronic Lab Data Format 4 (ELDF)

Understand the ESdat ELDF in Minutes