Archived SAM Documents

Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) is updated periodically to incorporate revisions to the list of target analytes and environmental sample types, and to provide the most recent analytical methods and procedures. The table below provides information regarding the additional changes that were incorporated into each revision of SAM, since publication of SAM Revision 1.0 in September 2004.

SAM Revision

Publication Date

Summary of Significant Changes

Standardized Analytical Methods for Use during Homeland Security Events (SAM) 1.0 September 2004 Standardized Analytical Methods for Use During Homeland Security Events
Included chemical and biological contaminants
Standardized Analytical Methods for Use During Homeland Security Events (SAM) 2.0 September 2005 Added:
  • Radiochemicals
  • Several persistent CWA degradation products
  • Separate drinking water sample type for chemicals and radiochemicals
  • Viability determination methods for pathogens
  • Separate section for biotoxins
Standardized Analytical Methods for Environmental Restoration following Homeland Security Events (SAM) 3.0 February 2007
  • Added explosive chemicals
  • Combined identification and viability methods for pathogens
  • Added drinking water sample type for pathogens
  • Title changed to: Standardized Analytical Methods for Environmental Restoration Following Homeland Security Events (SAM)
Standardized Analytical Methods for Environmental Restoration following Homeland Security Events (SAM) 3.1 November 2007 Developed a SAM website, to provide the SAM document and a format for searching and linking to SAM methods by analyte and sample type
Standardized Analytical Methods for Environmental Restoration Following Homeland Security Events (SAM) 4.0 September 2008 Added:
  • Wipe sample type for chemistry analytes
  • PCR methods for pathogens
Standardized Analytical Methods for Environmental Restoration Following Homeland Security Events (SAM) 5.0 September 2009 Added separate drinking water sample type to biotoxins
Standardized Analytical Methods for Environmental Restoration Following Homeland Security Events – SAM 2010 (SAM 6.0) October 2010
  • Removed non-aqueous liquid sample type from chemistry
  • Temporary removal of pathogens
Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) 2012 (Current) July 2012
  • Changed title to: Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM)—2012
  • Added vegetation sample type, newly available rapid methods, and total activity screening procedure for radiochemistry analytes
  • Re-introduced pathogen methods with restructing to clarify method applications for site characterization and post remediation
  • Assigned applicability tiers to chemistry methods to indicate the extent of data available that support use of each method for analyte / sample type pairs

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