Holding Times and Container Types – Chemtech-Ford Laboratories

Holding times, container and preservation requirements are set to assure that contaminant concentrations do not change significantly between sampling and analysis. This searchable table shows the appropriate container, preservation conditions, and holding time requirements for our common laboratory tests. Please contact a project manager or sample receiving for bottle orders and specific sampling guidance for your project.

CAT	Parameter	Matrix (note 1)	Container (note 2)	Preservation	Max Hold Time
BACT	Coliform, Colilert	W, DW	P, Bottle or Bag	Cool, 4°C, 0.008% Na2S2O3 (note 3)	6-24 hours (note 4)
BACT	Coliform, Fecal and Total	W, DW	P,G	Cool, 4°C, 0.008% Na2S2O3 (note 3)	6-24 hours (note 4)
BACT	Fecal Streptococci	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C, 0.008% Na2S2O3 (note 3)	6-24 hours (note 4)
INORG	Acidity	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C	14 days
INORG	Alkalinity	W, DW	P,G	Cool, 4°C	14 days
INORG	Ammonia	W, DW	P,G	Cool, 4°C, H2SO4 to pH<2	28 days
INORG	Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C	48 hours
INORG	Bromate	W, DW	P,G	50mg/L EDA, cool to 4°C	28 days
INORG	Bromide	W, DW	P,G	None Required	28 days
INORG	Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C, H2SO4 to pH<2	28 days
INORG	Chloride - Method 300.0	W, DW	P,G	None Required	28 days
INORG	Chloride - Method 9056	W, S	P,G	Cool, 4°C	Analyze immediately
INORG	Chlorine, Total Residual	W, DW	P,G	None Required	15 minutes
INORG	Chlorite	W, DW	P,G	50mg/L EDA, cool to 4°C	14 days
INORG	Chlorophyll-A	W	G Amber	Cool, 4°C	Analyze immediately
INORG	Chromium VI - Method 7196A	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C	24 hours
INORG	Color	W, DW	P,G	Cool, 4°C	48 hours
INORG	Cyanide, Total and Amenable to Chlorination	W, DW	P,G	Cool, 4°C, NaOH to pH>12, plus 0.6 g Ascorbic Acid	14 days
INORG	Cyanide, Weak Acid Dissociable	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C, NaOH to pH >12	14 days
INORG	Ferrous Iron	W, DW	G Amber	Cool, 4°C	24 hours
INORG	Fluoride - Method 300.0	W, DW	P,G	None Required	28 days
INORG	Fluoride - Method 9056	W, S	P,G	Cool, 4°C	Analyze immediately
INORG	Hardness	W, DW	P,G	HNO3 to pH<2	6 months
INORG	Hydrogen Ion (pH)	W, DW, S	P,G	None Required	Analyze immediately
INORG	Ignitability	W	G	None Required	14 days
INORG	Kjeldahl and Organic Nitrogen	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C, H2SO4 to pH<2	28 days
INORG	Nitrate - Method 300.0	W, DW	P,G	Cool, 4°C	48 hours
INORG	Nitrate - Method 353.2	W, DW	P,G	Cool, 4°C, H2SO4 to pH<2	48 hours
INORG	Nitrate - Method 9056	W, S	P,G	Cool, 4°C	Analyze immediately
INORG	Nitrate-Nitrite - Method 353.2	W, DW	P,G	Cool, 4°C, H2SO4 to pH<2	28 days
INORG	Nitrite	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C	48 hours
INORG	Orthophosphate Method 365.3	W, DW	P,G	Cool, 4°C	Analyze immediately
INORG	Oxygen, Dissolved (Probe)	W, DW	G, Bottle and Top	None Required	Analyze immediately
INORG	Oxygen, Dissolved (Winkler)	W, DW	G, Bottle and Top	Fix on Site and Store in Dark	8 hours
INORG	Perchlorate	W, DW	P,G	Protect from temp. extremes	28 days
INORG	Phenolics, Total	W	G Only	Cool, 4°C, H2SO4 to pH<2	28 days
INORG	Phosphorus, Elemental	W	G Only	Cool, 4°C	48 hours
INORG	Phosphorus, Total	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C, H2SO4 to pH<2	28 days
INORG	Residue, Total	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C	7 days
INORG	Residue, Filterable (TDS)	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C	7 days
INORG	Residue, Nonfilterable (TSS)	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C	7 days
INORG	Residue, Settleable	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C	48 hours
INORG	Residue, Volatile	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C	7 days
INORG	Silica	W	P Only	Cool, 4°C	28 days
INORG	Specific Conductance	W, DW	P,G	Cool, 4°C	28 days
INORG	Sulfate Method 300.0	W, DW	P,G	Cool, 4°C	28 days
INORG	Sulfate Method 9056	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C	Analyze immediately
INORG	Sulfide	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C, Add Zinc Acetate plus Sodium Hydroxide to pH>9	7 days
INORG	Sulfite	W	P,G	None Required	24 hours
INORG	Surfactants (MBAS)	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C	48 hours
INORG	Tannin and Lignin	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C	28 days
INORG	Temperature	W	P,G	None Required	Analyze immediately
INORG	Turbidity	W, DW	P,G	Cool, 4°C	48 hours
METALS	Metals, except CrVI and Mercury	W, DW	P,G	HNO3 to pH<2	6 months
METALS	Metals, except CrVI and Mercury	S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C	6 months
METALS	Chromium VI Method 7195	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C	24 hours
METALS	Mercury	W	P,G	HNO3 to pH<2	28 days
METALS	Mercury	S	P,G	Cool, 4°C	28 days
ORG	Oil and Grease, Hexane Extractable Material (EPA 1664)	W	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C, HCl to pH<2	28 days
ORG	Organic Carbon, Total (TOC)	W	P,G	Cool, 4°C, H2SO4 to pH<2	28 days
ORG	Organic Halogens, Total (TOX)	W	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C, H2SO4 to pH<2, No headspace	28 days
ORG	Organic Halogens, Adsorbable (AOX)	W	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C, HNO3 to pH<2	6 months
ORG	Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Total Recoverable	W	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C, HCl or H2SO4 to pH<2	28 days
ORG	Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Total	W	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C, HCl or H2SO4 to pH<2	7 days until extraction; 40 days after extraction
ORG	Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Total	S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C	14 days until extraction; 40 days after extraction
ORG	Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Volatile (Gasoline-Range Organics)	W	G, Teflon-Lined Septum Cap	Cool, 4°C, HCl to pH<2, No Headspace	14 days
ORG	Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Volatile (Gasoline-Range Organics)	S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C, Minimize Headspace	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Halocarbons	W	G, Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	No Residual Chlorine Present: HCl to pH<2, Cool, 4°C, No Headspace	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Halocarbons	W	G, Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Residual Chlorine Present: 10% Na2S2O3, HCl to pH<2, Cool, 4°Cn No Headspace	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Halocarbons	S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C, Minimize Headspace	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Halocarbons	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Freeze at -20°C on site in vial	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Halocarbons	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Frozen in coring tool on site	48 hours
ORG	Purgeable Halocarbons	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Cool 4°C, freeze at lab within 48 hours	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Halocarbons	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Cool 4°C, methanol preserved within 48 hours	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Halocarbons	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Cool 4°C in vial	48 hours
ORG	Purgeable Halocarbons	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Cool 4°C in coring tool	48 hours
ORG	Purgeable Halocarbons	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Cool 4°C, Sodium Bisulfate	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Aromatic Hydrocarbons (including BTEX and MTBE)	W	G, Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	No Residual Chlorine Present: HCl to pH<2, Cool, 4°C, No Headspace	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Aromatic Hydrocarbons (including BTEX and MTBE)	W	G, Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Residual Chlorine Present: 10% Na2S2O3, HCl to pH<2, Cool 4°C	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Aromatic Hydrocarbons (including BTEX and MTBE)	S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C, Minimize Headspace	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Aromatic Hydrocarbons (including BTEX and MTBE)	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Freeze at -20°C on site in vial	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Aromatic Hydrocarbons (including BTEX and MTBE)	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Frozen in coring tool on site	48 hours
ORG	Purgeable Aromatic Hydrocarbons (including BTEX and MTBE)	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Cool 4°C, freeze at lab within 48 hours	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Aromatic Hydrocarbons (including BTEX and MTBE)	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Cool 4°C, methanol preserved within 48 hours	14 days
ORG	Purgeable Aromatic Hydrocarbons (including BTEX and MTBE)	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Cool 4°C in vial	48 hours
ORG	Purgeable Aromatic Hydrocarbons (including BTEX and MTBE)	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Cool 4°C in coring tool	48 hours
ORG	Purgeable Aromatic Hydrocarbons (including BTEX and MTBE)	S	Method 5035A, G. Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Cool 4°C, Sodium Bisulfate	14 days
ORG	Acrolein, Acrylonitrile, Acetonitrile	W	G, Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Adjust pH to 4-5, Cool, 4°C, No Headspace	14 days
ORG	EDB and DBCP	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C, 3 mg Na2S2O3, No Headspace	28 days
ORG	Dioxins/Furans by 8290/8280	W	G Amber	Cool, 4°C	30 days
ORG	Dioxins/Furans by 8290/8280	S	G	Cool, 4°C	30 days, if frozen 1 year
ORG	Dioxins/Furans by 1613B	W	G Amber	Cool, 4°C	1 year
ORG	Dioxins/Furans by 1613B	S	G	Frozen	1 year
ORG	Coplanar PCBs by 1668A	W	G Amber	Cool, 4°C	1 year
ORG	Coplanar PCBs by 1668A	S	G	Cool, 4°C	1 year
ORG	Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Extractable (Diesel-Range Organics)	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C	7 days until extraction (note 6), 40 days after extraction
ORG	Alcohols and Glycols	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C (note 5)	7 days until extraction (note 6), 40 days after extraction
ORG	Phenols	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C (note 5)	7 days until extraction (note 6), 40 days after extraction
ORG	Phthalate Esters	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C (note 5)	7 days until extraction (note 6), 40 days after extraction
ORG	Nitrosamines	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C	7 days until extraction (note 6), 40 days after extraction
ORG	Organochlorine Pesticides and PCBs	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C	7 days until extraction (note 6), 40 days after extraction
ORG	Nitroaromatics and Cyclic Ketones	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C	7 days until extraction (note 6), 40 days after extraction
ORG	Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C	7 days until extraction (note 6), 40 days after extraction
ORG	Haloethers	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C (note 5)	7 days until extraction (note 6), 40 days after extraction
ORG	Chlorinated Hydrocarbons	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C (note 5)	7 days until extraction (note 6), 40 days after extraction
ORG	Organophosphorus Pesticides	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C (note 5)	7 days until extraction (note 6), 40 days after extraction
ORG	Nitrogen- and Phosphorus-Containing Pesticides	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C (note 5)	7 days until extraction (note 6), 40 days after extraction
ORG	Carbonyl Compounds (formaldehyde)	W	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C (note 5)	3 days until extraction; 3 days after extraction
ORG	Chlorinated Herbicides	W,S	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C (note 5)	7 days until extraction (note 6), 40 days after extraction
ORG	Chlorinated Phenolics	W	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	H2SO4 to pH<2, Cool, 4°C (note 5)	30 days until extraction; 30 days after extraction
ORG	Resin and Fatty Acids	W	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	NaOH to pH >10, Cool, 4°C (note 5)	30 days until extraction; 30 days after extraction
ORG	Purgeable Organics	DW	G, Teflon-Lined, Septum Cap	Ascorbic Acid, HCl to pH<2, Cool, 4°C, No Headspace	14 days
ORG	EDB, DBCP, and TCP	DW	G, Teflon-Lined Septum Cap	Cool, 4°C, 3 mg Na2S2O3, No Headspace	14 days
ORG	Carbamates, Carbamoyloximes	DW	G, Amber, Teflon-Lined Cap	1.8 mL monochloroacetic acid to pH<3; 80 mg/L Na2S2O3 if Res.Cl.; Cool, 4°C	28 days
ORG	Chlorinated Herbicides	DW	G, Amber, Teflon-Lined Cap	If Res.Cl, 2mg/40mL NaS; Cool, <6°C	14 days until extraction; 21 days after extraction
ORG	Chlorinated Pesticides	DW	G, Amber, Teflon-Lined Cap	50 mg/L NaS, HCl to pH< 2; Cool, 4°C	14 days until extraction; 30 days after extraction
ORG	Diquat and Paraquat	DW	HDPE, Amber, Teflon-Lined Cap	100 mg/L Na2S2O3 if Res.Cl., Cool, 4°C	7days until extraction; 21 days after extraction
ORG	Endothall	DW	G, Amber, Teflon-Lined Cap	Cool, 4°C	7 days until extraction; 14 days after extraction
ORG	Glyphosate	DW	G, Amber, Teflon-Lined Cap	100 mg/L Na2S2O3, Cool, 4°C	14 days
ORG	Haloacetic Acids	DW	G, Amber, Teflon-Lined Cap	100 mg/L NH4Cl, Cool, 4°C	14 days until extraction; 7 days after extraction
ORG	Semivolatile Organics	DW	G, Amber, Teflon-Lined Cap	50 mg/L NaS, HCl to pH< 2; Cool, 4°C	14 days until extraction; 30 days after extraction
TCLP	Mercury	HW	P,G	Sample: Cool, 4°C	28 days until extraction;
TCLP	Mercury	HW	P,G	TCLP extract: HNO3 to pH<2	28 days after extraction
TCLP	Metals, except Mercury	HW	P,G	Sample: Cool, 4°C	180 days until extraction;
TCLP	Metals, except Mercury	HW	P,G	TCLP extract: HNO3 to pH<2	180 days after extraction
TCLP	Volatile Organics	HW	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Sample: Cool, 4°C , Minimize Headspace	14 days until extraction;
TCLP	Volatile Organics	HW	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	TCLP extract: Cool, 4°C, HCl to pH<2, No Headspace	14 days after extraction
TCLP	Semivolatile Organics	HW	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Sample: Cool, 4°C, Store in Darka	14 days to prepare leachate;
TCLP	Semivolatile Organics	HW	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	TCLP extract: Cool, 4°C, Store in Darka	7 days to extract
TCLP	Semivolatile Organics	HW	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	TCLP extract: Cool, 4°C, Store in Darka	40 days after extraction to analyze
TCLP	Organochlorine Pesticides	HW	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Sample: Cool, 4°C	14 days until TCLP ext'n;
TCLP	Organochlorine Pesticides	HW	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	TCLP extract: Cool, 4°C	7 days until extraction; 40 days after extraction
TCLP	Chlorinated Herbicides	HW	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	Sample: Cool, 4°C	14 days until TCLP ext'n;
TCLP	Chlorinated Herbicides	HW	G, Teflon-Lined Cap	TCLP extract: Cool, 4°C	7 days until extraction; 40 days after extraction

Notes:

DW = Drinking Water; W = Water; S = Soil or Sediment; HW = Hazardous Waste; A = Air
P = Polyethylene; G = Glass
For chlorinated water samples
The maximum holding time is dependent on the geographical proximity of sample source to the laboratory
If the water sample contains residual chlorine, 10% sodium thiosulfate is used to dechlorinate
Fourteen days until extraction for soil, sediment, and sludge samples