EPA Pacific Southwest (Region 9) Sample Container and Preservation List
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
Double the containers when submitting matrix spike/matrix spike duplicate (MS/MSD) samples. For potable water samples, additional dechlorination procedures and preservatives may be necessary. Please contact R9RSCC@epa.gov for more information.
| Analysis | Group Name | Analyte | Container | Preservative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air | Organic Chemistry | Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) / Passive Sampler | Rad 145 Cartridge | Ambient |
| Air / Soil Gas | Organic Chemistry | Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) / TO-15 | 1L or 6L Canister | Ambient |
| Aqueous | General Chemistry | Alkalinity | 1 x 500 mL Poly | Unpreserved, 4C |
| Aqueous | General Chemistry | Anions | 1 x 250 mL Poly | Unpreserved, 4C |
| Aqueous | General Chemistry | Cyanide | 1 x 250 mL Poly | NaOH, pH >12, 4C |
| Aqueous | General Chemistry | Hardness, by Titration | 1 x 250 mL Poly | HNO3, pH < 2, 4C |
| Aqueous | General Chemistry | Nitrogen, Ammonia | 1 x 125 mL Poly | H2SO4, pH <2, 4C |
| Aqueous | General Chemistry | Nitrogen, Nitrate+Nitrite by Cadmium Reduction | 1 x 250 mL Poly | H2SO4, pH <2, 4C |
| Aqueous | General Chemistry | Nitrogen, Total Kjeldahl (TKN) | 1 x 250 mL Poly | H2SO4, pH <2, 4C |
| Aqueous | General Chemistry | Sulfide | 1 x 500 mL Poly | NaOH + Zn Acetate, pH>9, 4C |
| Aqueous | General Chemistry | Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) | 1 x 500 mL Poly | Unpreserved, 4C |
| Aqueous | General Chemistry | Total Organic Carbon (TOC) | 3 x 40 mL VOA Vial | HCl, pH <2, 4C |
| Aqueous | General Chemistry | Total Phosphorous | 1 x 250 mL Poly | H2SO4, pH <2, 4C |
| Aqueous | General Chemistry | Total Suspended Solids (TSS) | 1 x 500 mL Poly | Unpreserved, 4C |
| Aqueous | Metals | Hexavalent Chromium | 1 x 250 mL Poly | 250mM Ammonium Sulfate/ 1000mM Ammonium Hydroxide, 4C |
| Aqueous | Metals | ICP-Metals (Drinking Water EPA Method 200.8) | 1 x 500 mL Poly | HNO3, pH <2 |
| Aqueous | Metals | ICP-Metals (EPA Method 200.7 / 200.8) | 1 x 500 mL Poly | HNO3, pH <2 |
| Aqueous | Metals | Iron, Ferrous | 1 x 250 mL Poly | Unpreserved, 4C |
| Aqueous | Metals | Mercury (EPA Method 245.1 / 7471) | 1 x 500 mL Poly | HNO3, pH <2 |
| Aqueous | Organic Chemistry | Organochlorine Pesticides | 2 x 1L glass amber | Unpreserved, 4C |
| Aqueous | Organic Chemistry | PCB as Aroclors | 2 x 1L glass amber | Unpreserved, 4C |
| Aqueous | Organic Chemistry | PFAS in Drinking Water (EPA Method 533) | 3 x 250 mL Poly | Ammonium Acetate, 4C |
| Aqueous | Organic Chemistry | Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Low Level PAH) | 2 x 1L glass amber | Unpreserved, 4C |
| Aqueous | Organic Chemistry | Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOC) | 2 x 1L glass amber | Unpreserved, 4C |
| Aqueous | Organic Chemistry | Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Extractable (Diesel, Motor Oil) | 2 x 1L glass amber | Unpreserved, 4C |
| Aqueous | Organic Chemistry | Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Purgeable (Gasoline, Jet Fuel) | 3 x 40 mL VOA Vial | HCL, pH <2, 4C |
| Aqueous | Organic Chemistry | Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) | 3 x 40 mL VOA Vial | HCL, pH <2, 4C |
| Aqueous | Organic Chemistry | Volatiles, Low Level (TCP, EDB, DBCP) | 3 x 40 mL VOA Vial | Unpreserved, 4C |
| Soils | General Chemistry | Anions | 1 x 4 oz. Glass Jar | 4C |
| Soils | Metals | ICP-Metals (EPA Method 6010 / 6020) | 1 x 4 oz. Glass Jar | 4C |
| Soils | Metals | Mercury (EPA Method 7471 / 7473) | 1 x 4 oz. Glass Jar | 4C |
| Soils | Metals | Metals, SPLP (ICP-OES, Mercury) | 1 x 4 oz. Glass Jar | 4C |
| Soils | Metals | Metals, STLC (ICP-OES, Mercury) | 1 x 4 oz. Glass Jar | 4C |
| Soils | Metals | Metals, TCLP (ICP-OES, Mercury) | 1 x 4 oz. Glass Jar | 4C |
| Soils | Organic Chemistry | Organochlorine Pesticides | 1 x 8 oz. Glass Jar | 4C |
| Soils | Organic Chemistry | PCBs as Aroclors | 1 x 8 oz. Glass Jar | 4C |
| Soils | Organic Chemistry | Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Low Level PAH) | 1 x 8 oz. Glass Jar | 4C |
| Soils | Organic Chemistry | Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds | 1 x 8 oz. Glass Jar | 4C |
| Soils | Organic Chemistry | Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Extractable (Diesel, Motor Oil) | 1 x 8 oz. Glass Jar | 4C |
| Soils | Organic Chemistry | Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Purgeable (Gasoline) | 3 x 5g EnCore samplers | 4C |
| Soils | Organic Chemistry | Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) | 3 x 5g EnCore samplers | 4C |