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EPA Pacific Southwest (Region 9) Sample Container and Preservation List

Region 9 Resources
  • Region 9 Laboratory Home
  • Drinking Water Laboratory Certification
  • Sample Container and Preservation List
  • Standard Operating Procedures

All samples shipped to the Region 9 Laboratory must be bottled and preserved in accordance with protocols. The following table indicate the required containers, volumes and chemical preservation, as necessary.

Please contact the Region 9 Laboratory regarding preservation and container requirements for Microbiology and Marine/Freshwater Toxicity Testing.

Note: All recommendations apply only to samples submitted to the EPA Region 9 Laboratory and are for single sample quantities.


EPA Region 9 Sample Container and Preservation List
Analysis Group Name Analyte Container Preservative
Aqueous Organic Chemistry 1,4-dioxane 2 x 1L glass amber 4C
Aqueous Organic Chemistry Chlorophenols 2 x 1L glass amber 4C
Aqueous Organic Chemistry EDB/DBCP 3 x 40 ml VOA Vial 4C
Aqueous Organic Chemistry Organochlorine Pest/PCBS 2 x 1L glass amber 4C
Aqueous Organic Chemistry Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons 2 x 1L glass amber 4C
Aqueous Organic Chemistry Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds 2 x 1L glass amber 4C
Aqueous Organic Chemistry Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons - TEH (Diesel, Motor Oil) 2 x 1L glass amber 4C
Aqueous Organic Chemistry Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons + BTXE - TVH (Gasoline, Jet Fuel) 3 x 40 ml VOA Vial HCL, pH <2, 4C
Aqueous Organic Chemistry Volatile Organic Compounds 3 x 40 ml VOA Vial HCL, pH <2, 4C
Aqueous Metals ICP Metals 1 x 250 ml Plastic HNO3, pH <2
Aqueous Metals Mercury 1 x 250 ml Plastic HNO3, pH <2
Aqueous Metals Lead, Copper (Drinking Water) 1 x 250 ml Plastic HNO3, pH <2
Aqueous General Chemistry Alkalinity 1 x 500 ml Plastic 4C
Aqueous General Chemistry Anions 1 x 250 ml Plastic 4C
Aqueous General Chemistry Ammonia 1 x 250 ml Plastic H2SO4, pH <2, 4C
Aqueous General Chemistry Cyanide 1 x 250 ml Plastic NaOH, pH >12, 4C
Aqueous General Chemistry Hardness 1 x 250 ml Plastic HNO3, pH < 2, 4C
Aqueous General Chemistry Sulfide 1 x 500 ml Plastic NaOH + Zn Acetate
pH >9,4C
Aqueous General Chemistry Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) 1 x 250 ml Plastic H2SO4, pH <2, 4C
Aqueous General Chemistry Total Organic Carbon (TOC) 1 x 125 mL glass H2SO4, pH <2, 4C
Aqueous General Chemistry Total Phosphorous 1 x 250 ml Plastic H2SO4, pH <2, 4C
Aqueous General Chemistry Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) 1 x 500 ml Plastic 4C
Aqueous General Chemistry Total Solids 1 x 500 ml Plastic 4C
Aqueous General Chemistry Total Suspended Solids (TSS) 1 x 500 ml Plastic 4C
Soils Organic Chemistry Organochlorine Pest/PCBs 1 x 8 oz. Glass Jar 4C
Soils Organic Chemistry Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons 1 x 8 oz. Glass Jar  
Soils Organic Chemistry Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds 1 x 8 oz. Glass Jar 4C
Soils Organic Chemistry Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons - TEH (Diesel, Kerosine. Paint Thinner) 1 x 8 oz. Glass Jar 4C
Soils Organic Chemistry Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons + BTXE - TVH (Gasoline, Jet Fuel) 3 x 5g EnCore-type samplers 4C
Soils Organic Chemistry Volatile Organic Compounds 3 x 5g EnCore-type samplers 4C
Soils General Chemistry Anions 1 x 4 oz. Glass Jar 4C
Soils General Chemistry Perchlorate 1 x 4 oz. Glass Jar 4C
Soils General Chemistry Total Organic Carbon 1 x 4 oz. Glass Jar 4C
Soils Metals Metals (all) 1 x 4 oz. Glass Jar 4C

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Last updated on April 21, 2025
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