How to Send Samples to the Lab

Our goal with the Helping You Have Healthy Turf newsletter has always been two-fold. The first goal is to be informative and educational for our customers. The second goal, of course, is to try to encourage the reader to use Turf & Soil Diagnostics for their soil testing.

This newsletter concerns how to properly package and send samples in to the lab for the various testing procedures we perform. We feel this is useful information for our customers. However, it is also a little more self-serving than most of our newsletters. We often receive samples that are inadequate in one form or another. Bad samples are the biggest problem that we encounter in our lab, and it also causes problems for our customers. Please allow us to be somewhat self indulgent, as we hope the information in this newsletter will be a benefit to our lab and to you our customer.

The most common problems encountered are improper packaging and incorrect sample volume. Improperly packaged samples can lead to containers opening during shipment, cross-contamination of samples or total loss of sample content. Improper sample amounts to lead to project delays, as tests can not begin until enough sample is available.

Photo on left is of actual samples received by our lab. The bags broke open during shipment causing labels to rub off. Individual samples were unidentifiable and unusable.

We recommend the following procedure for shipment of samples of soils or sands to the lab:

1) Place sample in a zipper lock type of bag(s).

2) Close the bag and label with a permanent marker.

3) Place bag inside of another bag. Then close the outer bag.

4) Repeat this process for all samples that are to be submitted.

5) Place samples in a box for shipment. Place packing materials (e.g. bubble wrap) around the sample bags.

6) Include a sample submittal form inside the box. Submittal forms are available on this web site.

7) Close and tape the box, then ship to the lab via courier. UPS and FedEx deliver to our lab in the afternoon, with DHL delivery late in the afternoon. If morning delivery is needed please use FedEx First Overnight.

How much sample is needed depends upon the testing that is to be performed.

For most of our soil testing procedures the proper amount of sample to supply is one gallon. This amount will also be sufficient for sands that are to be tested for rootzones, topdress, or bunkers.

A half gallon sample is sufficient for nutrient evaluations, drainage gravels, or organic and inorganic amendments.

Base stone/top stone testing for artificial turf requires two gallons of sample.

Green roof growing media or drainage aggregrate requires five gallons of sample.

It is usually best to send these in 5 gallon buckets

Green roof filters or fabrics requires a minimum of two 4"x4" samples.

LA Abrasion and sulfate soundness testing for gravels requires three gallons.