Chain of Custody

It is the policy of TMI Analytical Services to provide clients assistance in the sampling process by recommendation of proper handling of samples in regards to container selection, sample size, preservation, transportation and documentation. Upon request TMI will make coolers, ice packs, containers and appropriate preservatives available.

A combination Chain-of-Custody/Analysis Request form will be provided to our clients. This form must be completed prior to formal acceptance of samples into the laboratory.

Sample bottle labels will be provided to our clients. Information on the labels should include: client name, sampler's name, date of sampling, sample description, preservatives and parameters for analysis. This information should also be included on the Chain-of -Custody form.

Samples must be collected in appropriate containers. In general, samples for organic analyses are collected in glass containers and samples for inorganic analyses are collected in plastic containers.

Containers for solid/soil samples should be packed full to a minimum amount of air space in the jar. Containers for liquid samples should be filled to overflowing and sealed with no air (head space) trapped below the lid. This is especially important in organic parameters from water samples.

Take caution in filling preserved bottles because they usually contain concentrated acids or bases.

Sample containers must be properly cleaned to prevent contamination of the items of interest.

Samples must be preserved appropriately to minimize the loss of analytes due to adsorption, chemical or biological degradation, or volatilization.

Duplicate samples may be required to be collected for some parameters, such as volatiles from liquid samples. Regardless, sufficient volumes of sample must be collected to ensure that the required detection limits can be met and that quality control samples (replicates, spikes and duplicates) can be analyzed.

Nearly all samples require cooling to, and transport at, <4 degrees centigrade; those that do not require cooling are not affected by cooling. therefore, it is a standard policy that all samples shipped to tmi must be packaged in coolers with ice or frozen ice packs included to maintain the temperature at <4oc. if you feel your samples do not require cooling, please contact the laboratory before packing and shipping to confirm.

Samples must be transported to the laboratory in an expeditious manner to ensure that
holding times for the analyses can be met and to prevent compromises to the integrity
of the sample. Samples should be packaged to prevent breakage. Whenever possible, samples should be scheduled to arrive at TMI during business hours on normal working days. However, TMI can and will confer with clients to set arrangements for special shipping/delivery situations, and will work on these on a case-by-case basis.

Samples should be representative of the process or site being assessed.

The sample collector takes responsibility for the validity and integrity of the sample up to the point of formal receipt by the laboratory.