Do-it-yourself sampling

The aim of sampling is to collect a portion large enough for the analysis required and that accurately represents the material being tested. It is critical that the composition of the sample submitted to the laboratory be representative of the source you are trying to measure.

Sample composition may be affected by the action of microorganisms, aeration and changes in temperature during storage and transport. We recommend samples are refrigerated or stored in an esky with ice bricks as soon as possible after collection and delivered to the laboratory, preferably within 6 hours of sampling and generally, no more than 24 hours after sampling.

 

Sample Containers

The following is a guide to the types of containers that SAS Laboratory can provide for your sampling requirements. Filling and preservation instructions are also include.

 

Name
Code Use / tests
 Filling instructions
 Container

Bottle - 1 litre plastic

 1LP

General chemistry
(pH, conductivity, alkalinity, colour, turbidity)

 Fill to top leaving no air gap
  1L plastic sample bottle

Bottle - 500mL plastic

 500P General chemistry
(pH, conductivity, alkalinity, colour, turbidity)		 Fill to top leaving no air gap  500mL plastic container bottle

Bottle - 250mL plastic

 250P General chemistry
(pH, conductivity, alkalinity, colour, turbidity)
Methylene Blue Anionic Surfactants (MBAS)		 Fill to top leaving no air gap  250mL plastic sample bottle

Jar - 200mL square PET

 200PET

Suspended solids
Total solids

Fill to shoulder
  200ml square PET sample jar

Container - 120mL PC

120PC Metals Fill to 100mL (approx.) mark
  120mL PC sample container
Container - 70mL PP 70P Nutrients Fill to bottom of thread
  70mL PP sample container
Container - 70mL PP foil wrapped
 70P-Cl Chlorine Fill to top leaving no air gap  70mL PP sample container
Bottle - 250mL glass reusable + zinc acetate  250GZn Total sulphide

Fill to top leaving no air gap and do not overfill

Preservative: Zinc acetate

 250mL glass sample bottle
Bottle - 300mL Wheaton reusable, foil wrapped  Wh  Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Fill to top, insert glass stopper, seal with plastic cap  300mL Wheaton reusable sample bottle
Bottle - 200mL amber glass 200AG Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
 Fill to top, no air space  200mL amber glass sample bottle
Bottle - 200mL amber glass
 200AG-HAA
 Halo Acetic Acids (HAA) Fill to top leaving no air gap and do not overfill  200mL amber glass (HAA) sample bottle
Jar - 1L glass wide mouthed
 1LGJ
 Total oil and grease (TOG)
 Fill to shoulder
 1L glass sample jar
Jar - 500mL glass wide mouthed
 500GJ
 Total oil and grease (TOG) Fill to shoulder  500mL glass sample jar
Jar - 250mL glass wide mouthed  250GJ Total oil and grease (TOG)
 Fill to shoulder
  250mL glass sample jar
Bottle - 500mL amber glass
 500AG  Semi volatile organic compounds (TPH C10-C36) Fill two (2) bottles to top leaving no air gap  500mL amber glass sample bottle
Vial - 40mL glass
 40GV Volatile organic compounds (TPH C6-C9)/BTEX Fill to top forming meniscus, cap,
no air bubble		  40mL glass sample vial
Vial - 40mL glass+ 40GV Trihalomethanes (THM) Fill to top forming meniscus, cap, no air bubble

Preservative: Sodium thiosulphate

 

  40mL glass vial
Vial - 40mL glass
 40GV
 MIB / Geosmin Fill to top forming meniscus, cap,
no air bubble		  40mL glass vial
Bottle – 500mL sterile PET + sodium thiosulphate 500 PET
 General microbiology
(Coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms and E. coli, Enterococci, heterotrophic plate count, Legionella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa)

Do not rinse or touch inside of bottle
Fill to shoulder leaving air gap

Preservative: Sodium thiosulphate

  500mL sterile PET sodium thiosulphate sample bottle
Jar - 250mL sterile wide mouthed plastic  250PJ General microbiology
(Coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms and E. coli, Enterococci, heterotrophic plate count, Legionella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa)
  Leave air space
  250ml plastic sample jar

Bottle - 1 litre opaque brown plastic

  1LBP Algae
Chlorophyll		 Fill to top leaving no air gap  1L brown plastic sample bottle

Bottle - 4L amber glass, reusable

  DUST Dust analysis

As per method

Preservative: Copper sulphate

 4L amber glass reusable container bottle