How We Work > CAS Process

Getting Started
Begin by contacting a member of the Continental Project Management Team by phone or email. You will be assigned an experienced project manager who will be responsible for coordinating your project in our laboratory. Detail, to the extent that you can, the nature of your project and analytical requirements. The project manager will answer any questions you may have concerning analytical methods, turnaround times, sample containers, pricing or other concerns. You may also request a price quotation, statement of qualifications (pdf), or other information to help you meet your project requirements. Once you have chosen Continental to be your analytical laboratory we will send you an account information form to fill out.

Sample Kits
Request sample kits by contacting your Continental project manager, ideally with at least 48 hours notice. Continental project managers are very knowledgeable about sample container and preservation requirements for all types of analyses. Communicate to him or her the number of samples, matrix, regulatory program (RCRA, NPDES, SDWA, etc.) and required analyses (including specific analytical methods). Additional information your project manager will need includes the date shipment is needed, turnaround time required and the address to send the shipment. Sample coolers and bottles are provided at no additional charge.

The sample kit you receive will include the following:

		Sample cooler: Continental provides a sturdy, insulated cooler for the safe transport of your samples.
		Shipping order: This is a summary of the container contents, listing the number and type of bottles, preservatives used and the analysis that corresponds with each bottle type and preservative.
		Sample containers: These containers are precleaned and prepreserved to meet the method requirements of the requested analyses.
		Temperature blank: This is a 175ml bottle filled with clean water. When your samples are received at Continental, a digital thermometer probe will be inserted into it to measure the internal temperature of the cooler. Most analyses require that samples be maintained at a temperature above freezing and below 6 degrees Celsius.
		Chain-of-custody record, chain-of-custody seal, bottle labels, return shipping labels: These are important documents and should be filled out completely before shipping the samples to Continental. Click here for instructions for properly completing a chain-of-custody record.
		Optional: Blue ice packs, preprinted bottle labels and chain-of-custody records can be provided upon request at no additional charge. When requesting preprinted bottle labels and chain-of-custody records you will be asked to provide your project manager with additional information, including site names and sample descriptions.

Sample Collection
Continental has a dedicated field services department experienced in many different types of sampling projects including groundwater monitoring, wastewater and stormwater sampling, solid and hazardous waste sampling, and soil sampling. If you are interested in having our trained crew assist you with your sampling needs, contact a Continental project manager.

If you are collecting the samples yourself and have any questions, your Continental project manager will be happy to help. Use the links below to find out more sampling infromation.

General Sample Instructions
Sample Handling Requrements

Ship sample coolers to Continental via any standard courier including UPS, Federal Express, Airborne and the U.S. Postal Service. Any samples with short holding time analyses or that require thermal preservation should be delivered via next day delivery.

Continental has Saturday receiving hours to accommodate samples collected on Friday.

Sample Receiving
Once your sample cooler arrives at Continental it is unpacked and checked for any problems such as broken containers and missing or mislabeled bottles. The temperature of the cooler is recorded, along with any discrepancies, on the Cooler/Sample Receipt form. Your project manager will contact you if there are any discrepancies.

The sample information, including test assignment, is logged into the Laboratory Information System (LIMS) and a Continental order number, laboratory number (s) and storage location are assigned. Once this is complete, the samples are ready to be prepared and analyzed.

An acknowledgement stating the samples received, tests assigned and estimated charges will be sent to you.

Sample Analysis
Samples are analyzed following Continental’s Standard Operating Procedures. These procedures are in substantial compliance with approved methodologies such as EPA SW-846 and Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.

All analytical results are subject to two levels of technical review. When all required tests for an order are complete, a report is generated. The report is reviewed by the Project Manager and Technical Manager prior to being submitted to the client. Click below to see an example of an analytical report.

Analytical Report Example

Clients may also request a Quality Control report which includes Method Blank, Laboratory Control Sample (LCS), Matrix Spike/Matrix Spike Duplicate (MS/MSD), and Surrogate results pertaining to the analysis of their samples. Definitions of these terms are included on the cover of the Quality Control report, an example of which can be viewed by clicking below.

Quality Control Report Example

Reporting
Continental’s standard turnaround time is 15 working days from the time of sample receipt at the laboratory. Rush turnaround of 5 working days and Emergency turnaround of 2-3 working days are available at a 1.5 and 2.0 multiplier of standard pricing, respectively.

Continental provides reports via mail, fax, or e-mail, all at no extra charge. Electronic data delivery is also available at no additional charge.

Client historical data can also be provided on CD-ROM.

Sample Storage
All samples are retained by Continental for 30 days from the date of the Laboratory Report. Contact your project manager if you desire to have your samples kept at the laboratory for a longer period.

Payment



Continental’s payment terms are net 30 days from the date of invoice. Continental accepts VISA, MasterCard and American Express. Click here for a copy of Continental’s Terms and Condition of Sale.

More Information
If you have any questions regarding sample containers, procedures, regulatory requirements, analytical results, etc. call us or send us an e-mail. We want to help you meet or exceed the aims of your projects!