Congratulations! You received your PFAS Sampling Kit, and you’re ready to begin sampling. It’s important to follow certain guidelines to ensure accurate and reliable results. The following tips are helpful whether you’re new to PFAS sampling or a seasoned pro.
Water samples
Your kit contains pre-labeled polypropylene bottles. It’s important to collect all samples in duplicate. Doing so ensures we have a sample to perform a second sample preparation if it becomes necessary.
If you’re collecting samples for EPA Methods 533 or 537.1, your bottles contain a sampling preservative. You’ll want to make sure you don’t accidentally spill it before filling the bottle.
Fill the sampling bottles to the neck with the appropriate matrix whenever possible. While you want the bottle full, you don’t want to overfill it. Overfilling can increase the risk of a spill, which could obscure your label or contaminate another sample. A spill resulting from overfilling the bottle can cause you to lose some of the sampling preservatives, if present.
If you’re collecting samples from a tap or faucet, run the water for 5-10 minutes before taking the sample so it is representative of the water source.
Labeling is crucial, so use a ballpoint pen (avoid gel pens) to label the bottles with all relevant information. It’s important to avoid using blue ice to keep samples cold if you’re shipping them. Use water and ice to make sure samples stay cold overnight in the cooler.
When using an intermediary sampling device like a ladle, dipper, or bailer, it’s essential to use one constructed from stainless steel or HDPE/PP. We recommend you verify that the device is PFAS-free before you sample.
Lastly, maintain a clean and uncluttered work area to prevent contamination and verify the accuracy of the analysis.
Trip Blank (If Requested/Required)
Your kit will contain a sample bottle that is pre-filled with PFAS-free water. This bottle should not be opened during sampling. The results from the analysis of this sample will indicate any PFAS that may have infiltrated your sample during transport to and from the field.
Field Blank (If Required)
Your kit will contain an appropriate amount of PFAS-free water. Transfer the PFAS-free water to an empty sampling bottle, in duplicate, at your sampling location and label it as a field blank. These samples indicate any potential contamination of your samples from sources other than the samples themselves (for example, PFAS in aerosol droplets).
Solid Samples
Your kit will contain wide-mouth polypropylene jars. Provide the sample in a single container. If you’re using an intermediary sampling device like a trowel or auger, make sure that it is stainless steel, polypropylene, or HDPE (as required by Draft EPA Method 1633). We recommend you verify that the device is PFAS-free before you sample.
Air Samples
Contact us for more details.
Our PFAS Bottle Kit Order Form may be found here.
Dr. Bryan Vining
Laboratory Director
Dr. Bryan Vining is the laboratory director for Enthalpy Analytical Ultratrace in Wilmington, NC. Bryan is a 23-year veteran of the laboratory industry. He started his career as a product specialist and later worked in various lab roles before joining Enthalpy Analytical, LLC in 2016. Bryan has deep experience in the application of isotope dilution technology to the measurement of persistent organic pollutants, such as PFAS, at very low (ultratrace) levels in the environment. He has contributed to the revision of multiple EPA methods that use isotope dilution technology. Bryan graduated with a B.A. in Chemistry from Huntingdon College, before proceeding to get a Ph.D. from Florida State University and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
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