HELPFUL INFORMATION
HOURS
Laboratory hours are Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and by appointment. The laboratory will be closed on New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
TURNAROUND TIME
The standard turnaround time is 5-10 business days unless otherwise noted. Standard turnaround time applies to standard analyses only. Turnaround time for bacteria, nitrate and lead in drinking water is 3-5 working days. Since expedited analyses may require additional manpower and equipment, please call ahead of time so we can determine whether or not we can meet your turnaround requirements. If expedited turnaround is required, additional charges will be applied.
RE-ANALYSIS
Results questioned by the client will be re-analyzed upon request. No charge will be made unless re-analysis confirms the original results.
REPORTING PROCEDURES
Original reports will be emailed to the client(s) indicated on the chain of custody form (See confidentiality statement below). Reports can be sent by FAX at no additional charge when a FAX number is provided. Results of analyses will be sent by US mail only by request. Contact the laboratory for information.
CONFIDENTIALITY
It is the policy of SOS Analytical, Inc. that all samples and results are the property of the client. We will not give out sample results, data files or samples to anyone other than the client without the client's permission or a court order. When a court order to produce documents is received, the client will be notified.
SAMPLE HOLDING AND DISPOSAL
Samples are held for no longer than 30 days, depending on their stability and the amount of storage space required. Samples which require special means of disposal will be returned after analysis at the client's expense. We reserve the right to assess additional preparation fees for samples with unusually high concentrations of an analyte or those requiring special handling procedures or modifications of standard analytical methods.
STORAGE OF RESULTS
All results will be stored for a minimum of three years before disposal.
QUANTITY DISCOUNTS/SPECIAL PRICING
Quantity discounts are available for large volumes of samples or contract work. No discounts are allowed on overdue accounts.
SAMPLE CONTAINERS
Sample containers are available upon request. For water collection we supply 125ml, 250ml, 500ml and 1-liter HDPE; 1-liter wide mouth or narrow mouth, 250ml, 125ml and preserved 40ml amber glass vials; preserved and unpreserved 40ml clear glass vials. 4 oz glass jars and prepared methanol kits are available for soil sample collection. Containers are provided at no charge. If alternative sample containers are needed, please call for availability. Coolers, chain of custody forms and labels are also provided at no charge.
SAMPLE PICK-UP
Sample pick-up can be scheduled for the Traverse City area at no additional charge to our consultants. Please call the laboratory to schedule a pick-up.
SAMPLE COLLECTION
Sample collection for drinking water, surface water or wastewater can be provided for a fee of $100.00 per hour, portal to portal. ($100.00 minimum charge). Please call the laboratory to schedule.
PAYMENT TERMS
Net 30 days unless other arrangements are made. Those clients who receive invoices will be billed each month for work done during the previous month.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Quality assurance consists of a multitude of tests and includes initial calibrations, continuing calibrations, retention time checks, method blank analyses, method detection limit analyses and so on. The quality assurance program used by SOS Analytical, Inc. meets or exceeds that required by the analytical method. In addition to participating in the certification/accreditation programs for the state of Michigan, SOS Analytical, Inc. has its own internal quality control program where samples are analyzed to check the performance of all technicians and chemists. We also participate, on a bi-yearly basis, with a third party auditing program in which check samples are provided and the results are compared to the 'true' results and to the results reported by other laboratories in the country.
WARRANTY AND LIMITS OF LIABILITY
Our warranty is limited to the accuracy of analyses of samples as received. We assume no responsibility for the purposes for which the client uses the test result, nor liability for any other warranties, expressed or implied, including warranties of fitness for particular purpose or for merchantability made by the client. These terms and conditions shall supersede any conflicting terms and conditions stated on any purchase order, or other work order submitted by the client.