Laboratory Sample Submission in the Last Frontier – Keys to a successful analytical project in Alaska

LABORATORY SAMPLE SUBMISSION Justin A. Nelson

SGS North America, Inc.

Anchorage, Alaska Environmental Laboratory

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OUTLINE

Sample Kit Requests

Sampling Procedures

Chain of Custody Forms / Sample Labeling

Shipping Coolers to SGS

Receiving Results

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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?

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY FORM

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THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY FORM

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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.

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EXAMPLE KIT PACKING

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ABSORBENT PAD AND DOUBLE LAYER OF BUBBLE WRAP

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PACKING FOR SHIPPING CONTINUED…

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BUBBLE WRAP OVER TOP OF CONTAINERS

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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…

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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.

WWW.SGS.COM/ALASKA

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