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CHAPTER 2 12 – 12.3.2 LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF
SAMPLES FOR RIVPACS
High-quality biological laboratories are important to ensure consistency of results and a safe and productive working
environment for staff. Standards for chemical laboratories have been developed over many years with quality assurance and
safe working conditions at the heart of their design and operation. Similar standards for biological laboratories have been
established more recently. In general, requirements for biology laboratories are much simpler than for analytical chemistry
laboratories because less dangerous reagents are used. Ergonomics, good lighting facilities for washing and sorting samples,
and space for using microscopes and identification guides are the main requirements. An overview of biological laboratory
methods and management follows.
12.1 Laboratory sample reception
All samples must be dated and recorded upon reception by the laboratory. All information from the sample container label should
be included on the sample log. If more than one container has been used, the number of containers should be indicated as well.
12.2 Basic principles
The whole sample must be sorted, even if few animals are
found in some samples. The exceptions to these rules are:
Larger rare species must be recorded in the field and
returned to the site immediately. This includes medicinal
leech, native white-clawed crayfish, and pearl mussels.
Amphibians and fish should also be returned immediately.
A field search of discarded material when sub-sampling
the contents of an airlift.
Samples collected to investigate pollution incidents
may be examined in the field to check for the effects of
pollution, in particular the presence of dead animals.
Samples analysed in the field are particularly important as
evidence in legal cases, usually supported by subsequent
laboratory analysis, which benefits from quality
assurance measures.
When an immediate, interim assessment of a standard
sample is needed, it may be examined in the field, but it
must not be altered in any way.
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