Home : Divisions : Water Quality : Environmental Laboratory : Sample Containers, Preservation, and Holding Times

Sample Containers, Preservation, and Holding Times

Table of Containers, Preservation, and Holding Times for various Analyses

Analysis	Min Volume	Container Type	Preservative	Holding Time
% Solids / Density	500 g	Plastic	Ice	28 days
Ammonia-N (by ISE)	500 ml	Plastic	H2SO4, pH < 2, Ice	28 days
BOD	1 L	Plastic	Ice	48 hours
CBOD	1 L	Plastic	Ice	48 hours
Chloride	500 ml	Plastic	Ice	28 days
Chlorophyll A / Pheophytin	1 L	Amber Plastic	Ice	21 days
Dis. Orthophosphate - P	500 ml	Plastic	Field Filtered, Ice	48 hours
E. coli	120 ml	Sterile	STS, ICE	6 hours
Fecal Coliform	200 ml	Sterile	STS, ICE	6 hours
Metals	500 ml	Plastic	HNO3, pH < 2, Ice	6 months
MLSS / MLVSS	25 ml	Plastic	Ice	7 days
Nitrate - Nitrite	500 ml	Plastic	H2SO4, pH < 2, Ice	28 days
Oil & Grease	500 ml	Glass	H2SO4, pH < 2, Ice	28 days
Sulfate	500 ml	Plastic	Ice	28 days
T. Hardness (as CaCO3)	500 ml	Plastic	HNO3, pH < 2, Ice	6 months
T. Phosphorus	500 ml	Plastic	H2SO4, pH < 2, Ice	28 days
TDS	100 ml	Plastic	Ice	7 days
TSS	500 ml	Plastic	Ice	7 days

For analyses not listed, such as organics, TCLP, etc., please contact the ANRA Laboratory Manager at 936-633-7527.

ANRA reserves the right to subcontract samples to other certified laboratories if we are unable to perform the requested analyses. This includes testing for parameters that we do not normally analyze in-house, as well as routine samples if scheduling or workflow dictates.