Sample Custody Sample Clauses
Sample Custody. Sample custody is a part of any good laboratory or field operation. Where samples may be needed for legal purposes, "chain-of-custody" control procedures must be used. However, as a minimum, the following sample custody procedures will be addressed in the Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA) Plan:
A. Procedures and forms for recording the exact location associated with sample acquisition.
B. Standardized field tracking reporting system to establish sample custody in the field prior to shipment.
C. Identification of responsible party to act as sample custodian at the laboratory facility authorized to sign for incoming, field samples, and verify the data entered onto the sample custody records.
D. Provision for a laboratory sample custody log consisting of serially numbered standard laboratory tracking report sheets.
E. Specifications of laboratory sample custody procedures for sample handling, storage and disbursement for analysis.
F. Custody procedures for final evidence files. Final evidence files include all originals of laboratory reports and are maintained in a secure area. This element should provide examples of chain-of-custody control records or forms used to record chain-of-custody control for samplers, laboratories and evidence files.
Sample Custody. The Contractor or subcontractor shall be responsible for maintaining sample custody requirements communicated by the Water Boards Project Managers at the time of sample receipt. The Water Boards Project Manager, at any time, shall include a custody tag with the sampling tag upon submittal to the Contractor for analysis of certain samples, hereinafter referred to as “evidence samples”. For evidence samples, the following special custody procedures shall be followed:
1. The Contractor shall designate one (1) full-time employee as a sample custodian and one (1) or more employee(s) as alternate sample custodian(s) to ensure that at least one (1) such custodian shall be available to receive evidence samples.
2. The Contractor shall maintain an area for storage of evidence samples, which, in addition to requirements imposed by other provisions of these specifications, shall be secured from access by any person other than a designated custodian.
3. From the time of sample submittal to a custodian, evidence samples shall, at all times, remain in the actual, or constructive custody of a designated custodian, or analyst, until released for disposal pursuant to direction of the Water Boards Contract Manager, or designee.
a. Actual custody shall mean personal and constant control and surveillance over the sample when it is being transported to or from the secured area and during the actual time that analytical services are being performed on the sample.
b. Constructive custody shall mean those times when the sample is stored in the secured area.
c. The Contractor shall ensure that all required documentation shall not become separated from the sample until disposition of such documentation is directed by the Water Boards Contract Manager, or designee.
d. No evidence sample shall be disposed of until verbal authorization is obtained from the Water Boards Contract Manager, or designee.
Sample Custody. Chain-of-custody procedures will be used to control and maintain sample custody, whereby the sample possession and handling will be tracked from the source (field) to final disposition at the laboratory. A sample is considered to be in a person's custody if one of the following applies: ■ It is in the person's possession, ■ It is in the person's view after being in his or her possession; or ■ It was in that person's possession and that person has secured it in a vehicle or room. Chain-of-custody procedures are described in SOP SAS-03-02.