本文介绍了根据政府间水质监测工作组（ITFM）的建议成立的方法和数据可比性委员会（MDCB）。MDCB的工作部分基于ITFM主持下的数据收集方法任务组的建议。它为比较、评估和推广可在所有适当水质监测项目中实施的监测方法提供了框架和论坛。虽然MDCB的任务是促进和协调可比水质数据的收集，但更具体地说，MDCB将:优先考虑需要进行可比性评估的方法和参数；制定技术指南，以确保和记录数据的可比性；开发和推广基于绩效的方法体系；参与建立参考方法；制定方法验证的技术指南；推动国家实验室认证计划和实验室前认证计划； 确定并支持方法比较练习的计划需求。

This paper describes the Methods and Data Comparability Board (MDCB), which was formed at the recommendation of the Intergovernmental Task Force on Monitoring Water Quality (ITFM). The work of the MDCB is based, in part, on the recommendations of the Data Collection Methods Task group that operated under ITFM auspices. It provides the framework and the forum for comparing, evaluating, and promoting monitoring approaches that can be implemented in all appropriate water quality monitoring programs. While its mission is to promote and coordinate the collection of comparable water quality data, the MDCB will, more specifically: prioritize methods and parameters in need of comparability assessments; develop technical guidelines for ensuring and documenting data comparability; develop and promote a performance based methods system; participate in establishing reference methods; develop technical guidelines for methods validation; promote a national laboratory accreditation program and prelaboratory certification program; and, identify and support programmatic needs for methods comparison exercises.