laboratory sample submission in the last frontier – keys to a successful analytical project in...
TRANSCRIPT
LABORATORY SAMPLE SUBMISSION Justin A. Nelson
SGS North America, Inc.
Anchorage, Alaska Environmental Laboratory
2
OUTLINE
Sample Kit Requests
Sampling Procedures
Chain of Custody Forms / Sample Labeling
Shipping Coolers to SGS
Receiving Results
3
SAMPLE KIT REQUESTS
Information Needed Project Name/# Due date? Shipping Method? Analyses Requested # of Samples / date(s)
returning. Special Considerations Is the project regulated
by the DOD? How many Trip Blanks
are Required? Is site-specific QC
required?
4
SAMPLE KIT REQUESTS CONTINUED
How much sample is needed? Most semivolatile soil
analyses require ~25-30 grams per analysis.
4 oz. Jar = 150-200 g soil
Example DRO/RRO – 30 g PAH SIMS – 23 g % solids – 15 g 68 g per analysis (2 per
jar)
5
SAMPLE KIT REQUESTS CONTINUED
Organic Water Analyses require the entire container for each run.
Inorganics generally do not require the entire container for analysis, with the exception of BOD/TSS analysis of clean water.
Analyses are grouped by container/preservative type.
For analyses with short holding time, an expected date/time of delivery is helpful: Chromium VI Nitrate/Nitrite Orthophosphate Turbidity BOD Total Coliform Fecal Coliform Etc.
6
SAMPLING PROCEDURES
Volatiles analysis for soil samples (SW8260/8021/AK101) 1 x 4 oz. Pre-weighed
w/septa 1 x 25 mL vial Methanol
w/BFB surrogate
Put soil (50 g, or ~1/4 full) into container, and cover immediately with Methanol, like the Trip Blank you received with your kit.
Remember, ALWAYS use a full vial of Methanol, and ALWAYS record when more than one vial is used.
7
SAMPLING PROCEDURES CONTINUED
Volatiles analysis of water samples Fill to top (meniscus), and
carefully replace cap. When sampling for
multiple parameters, fill the Volatiles containers first.
Never pack coolers so that VOA vials are in direct
Samples with hydrocarbon content may lack the surface tension contact with Ice needed to form a meniscus
8
VOLATILES ANALYSIS OF WATER SAMPLES CONTINUED
Water sources with high amounts of CaCO3 may effervesce upon acidification.
Dissolved gases in water samples may result in headspace upon temperature changes.
If the project is regulated by the DOD, then each VOA sample (3 Vials) should be bagged separately.
9
SAMPLE LABELING GUIDELINES
Use fine-tipped permanent marker
If you use your own labels, make sure they will hold up to moisture
Sample ID should match COC
Applying a label to a wet container may result in labels coming off in-transit or during unpacking.
Write IDs on labels and lids if this is likely.
12
THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY FORM – SITE SPECIFIC QC
If QC is required on a particular sample from your site, then additional containers need to be filled.
For Organic Waters analyses, this simply means tripling the number of containers filled.
Soils generally require 1-2 more 4 ounce jars, depending on analyses. No additional 4-ounce w/Methanol is needed for MS/MSD
Inorganic waters analysis is more complicated with regards to MS/MSD/Duplicate, so it is best if we know in advance (at Kit Request) if it is required.
17
COC SEALS AND ADDRESS LABEL FOR SHIPPING
Before closing cooler, fill the empty space.
Leftover boxes, packing material, additional bubble wrap.
Shaking the cooler should not make much, if any noise.
18
GUIDELINES FOR SHIPPING TO THE LAB…
Our Courier (Alert Courier) has scheduled pickups at the main carriers (Goldstreak, Ravn, PenAir) in the morning and afternoon. They will pick up all coolers addressed to SGS automatically. Cost is $20 per Airbill.
Prior notice of samples incoming is always appreciated, especially for Rush/Short hold samples.
An airbill number and the name of the carrier is convenient for tracking the shipment.
19
AFTER RECEIPT AT THE LAB
Sit back and relax, we’ll take it from here!
After the samples are in our LIMS System, the chain of custody / sample receipt form will be uploaded to Engage.
Any issues with the samples will be communicated to you.
Once results are available, the final report is reviewed and uploaded, along with the Data View, if requested
Other EDDs, such as COELT, SEDD, ERPIMS, or Terrabase are done by our Data Services department.
Samples are held for 14 days after the final report is issued, unless other arrangements are made.
20
REVISED / CORRECTED REPORTS…AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM
Corrected Reports are generally a result of a failure of communication from Client Project Manager Laboratory.
Sample IDs – is it a 5 or an S?
Compound list errors
Acronyms, Acronyms, Acronyms…PCE, DCA, TCE, Tl, Ti, etc.
Sample dates/times – Errors not caught at review
The list goes on…
21
RETRIEVING YOUR DATA FROM ENGAGE
Access data at http://engage.sgs.com
If you need a username/password please send an email to your project manager or use the “Click to register” link on the homepage to request one.