Sample Preservation is Critical to Data Quality
Sample bottles you receive from Endyne will have the appropriate chemical preservation in them. This preservation can include strong acids or bases. When it is possible to still maintain good data quality, Endyne will preserve samples upon return to the laboratory.
Sample preservatives as prepared, can be shipped by common carrier or sent through the United States Mail, and considered in compliance with the Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Part 172).
Temperature Preservation is especially important
Samples for most testing, other than metal and radiological, should be transported in a cooler with sufficient ice to maintain a temperature of less than 6 degrees Celsius but without freezing. It is our policy to check and record the temperature of every sample upon receipt at our facilities.
The only reason why a sample should be received at greater than 6 degrees Celsius is when the sample was collected that day, but has not had the time to completely cool down. The client must still demonstrate that they have begun the cooling process by packing samples in ice.
Failure to properly preserve a sample requires the data to be qualified on the final report.
Consider Analytical Hold Time when scheduling shipments
Samples must also be received at the lab with enough analytical holding time remaining for the sample to be set up by the analyst. If you are unsure of the hold time of your samples, please call your lab to verify that the sample can arrive with sufficient hold time.
We have all the supplies you need to effectively transport your samples
We can provide coolers, insulated shippers, bottles and ice packs for your convenience to ensure proper temperature preservation during transport. Some analyses, like metals, do not require a temperature preservation and may be transported as is. Other analyses, such as inorganics, volatiles and organics, must be kept at a temperature of less than 6 degrees Celsius or less than 10 degrees Celsius for Coliform Bacteria.
Even if the samples cannot realistically reach the appropriate temperature range because of the short transport from the sample site, a cooling attempt must be demonstrated to avoid sample qualifiers.
