40 N. East Street, Suite B Woodland, CA 95776 (530) 666-6890 Fax: (530) 666-2987
Questions? Just call or E-Mail customerservice@emalab.com
Specializing in Pesticide Residue Analysis...
Environmental Residue Analysis
EPA Method 8081A Reporting Limits
EPA Method 8141A Reporting Limits
Sampling Issues and Submitting Samples for Analysis
Selecting a representative sample and correctly submitting it are critical to obtaining acurate information from the analysis. At EMA, we take great care that our analysis is representative of the whole sample you submit. Deviation from proper protocols in sample collection, container selection, or handling can invalidate an analysis. While it is not possible to completely describe all situations here, general sampling guidelines are discussed below.
Sample Collection
For produce, it is important several portions are collected from different areas of the field, bin, etc, for compositing in the laboratory, in order to determine the average pesticide level in the commodity. These sample must be shipped in glass or plastic bags to prevent contamination during shipping. A minimum of 200 grams per commodity per sample per test should be submitted.
For soils and waters, it is important that the samples be collected in clean glass containers or brass sleeves. Generally, 100 grams of soil and 1 liter of water are the minimum amount of sample required for each test requested.
Preservation and Shipping
Samples should be properly labeled and preserved by cooling them to 0 to 4°C, without any other chemical preservation methods. Samples should be shipped overnight to the laboratory, along with a chain of custody or sample submission form to ensure that the sample is analyzed for the correct analytes. A copy of the EMA Sample Submission Form may be printed through this link Sample Submission Form.
If there are any questions or concerns about the analysis or sampling issues, please give us a call to ensure that the sample that you send is appropriate for the requested analysis.