The agency field on an AnalyticalMethod documents the authoritative source of the laboratory procedure. Regulatory agencies frequently specify approved method sources in permit conditions: a state may require EPA methods for RCRA compliance but accept APHA standard methods for drinking water parameters. Recording agency alongside methodId lets piper generate compliance reports that correctly reference both the method number and its issuing body, which is often a requirement in formal report submittals.
Technical section
Data model, API, and internals — visible to developers.