Receipt and Documentation

Upon receipt, the reference standard should be checked for any physical damage due to inadequate packing and protection during shipment, loss of standard due to inad-equate/improper sealing and possible contamination due to inadequate separation of multiple standards packaged in one shipment. Also, the recipient should check that any special shipping requirements required to preserve the integrity of the standard were followed. If the reference standard is to be stored frozen, it should be arrive frozen at the laboratory. If not, the temperature upon receipt should be recorded and retained with the rest of the records. 

Reference standard documentation (chain of custody, certificate of analysis) should correspond to the information given on the container labels. If labeling is unclear, inadequate or inconsistent with paperwork or nonexistent, the suppher should be contacted for clarification. If discrepancies caimot be resolved and proper identification cannot be made, the reference standard should not be used. 

Each container of reference standard should be labeled by name or Chemical Abstracts (CA) number, log or batch number (as provided by the supplier), expiration or reassay date (if any) and storage conditions necessary to maintain the identity, strength, purity and composition of the reference standard. Observations related to receipt of shipped materials and any unresolved discrepancies should be documented. AU shipment papers such as bUls of lading and express shipment forms should be retained and stored with the rest of the project or study data. 

All reference substances are to be stored according to the instructions submitted by the suppher or per the container label instructions. If storage conditions are not 

---

Sample collection, storage, shipment, receipt, and documentation... 

After the required procedures (laboratory SOPs) are completed for sample receipt and documentation, the samples must be logged into the laboratory s Laboratory Information System (LIMS) database, or other method that is described in the applicable SOPs. This step is also commonly referred to as sample accessioning . If sample log-in cannot be completed upon receipt or within the time prescribed by the laboratory SOPs, an explanation for the delay should be documented in the sample receipt records. All samples should arrive with sufficient labeling for unique identification (sample ID), including any duplicates received. In many instances, the laboratory will add another label with additional information, such as a unique laboratory ID. 

---