EPA 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 tables 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 U.S. EPA Region 9 Laboratory and are for single sample quantities.

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	Biochemical Oxygen Demand	1 x 500 ml Plastic	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 250 ml Plastic	4C
Aqueous	General Chemistry	Total Solids	1 x 250 ml Plastic	4C
Aqueous	General Chemistry	Total Suspended Solids (TSS)	1 x 250 ml Plastic	4C
Aqueous	General Chemistry
Soils	Organic Chemistry	Organochlorine Pest/PCBs	1 x 4 oz. Glass Jar	4C
Soils	Organic Chemistry	Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons	1 x 4 oz. Glass Jar
Soils	Organic Chemistry	Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds	1 x 4 oz. Glass Jar	4C
Soils	Organic Chemistry	Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons - TEH (Diesel, Kerosine. Paint Thinner)	1 x 4 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