At CARO, our ultimate goal is to provide you with accurate analytical data. For starters, it is important that your sample(s) arrives at the laboratory in a condition that is representative of the source where it was collected. Changes in pH, temperature, oxygen, and light can significantly alter the sample’s composition. Furthermore, the way the sample is collected, handled, and transported to the laboratory can have a much bigger impact on the results than what happens in the laboratory. This is especially true for dissolved metals analysis on groundwater samples.
All applicable jurisdictions, including the BC Ministry of Environment (BCMOE) and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) now highly recommend field filtration and preservation for dissolved metals. Results for samples that are lab filtered must be qualified on the analytical report. You can read more about this on page 17 of the CCME Guidance Manual, Volume 4 Analytical Methods (2016).
Field filtration involves pushing or pulling the sample, as soon as it is collected, through a 0.45 µm membrane filter and into a container with nitric acid.
CARO will gladly continue to filter your samples and indicate this accordingly on your analytical report. However, effective August 2016, a filtration fee of $6.00 per sample will be added to your invoice. This is in line with the cost of the materials (syringes and filters) and labour that are required to do the filtration to keep contamination to a minimum. We are also happy to provide you with the necessary supplies and instructions to perform the filtration in the field to ensure that your results will be as accurate as possible. The cost of the field filtration kit is $3.50 per sample.
If you have any questions, please contact us! To order sampling supplies or testing, please visit our online store.
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Whitehorse, YT, Y1A0A8, Canada,
Victoria, V8T 1Y9, BC, Canada