What does sample preservation involve?

Sample preservation is an essential component of environmental testing, particularly for drinking water, as it ensures that the characteristics of a sample remain unchanged from the time of collection to analysis. This process can involve various methods that can be physical, biological, or chemical in nature.

Preservation can include refrigeration or freezing (physical methods) to slow down biological processes and chemical reactions, as well as the use of preservatives to maintain pH or inhibit microbial growth (chemical methods). Additionally, centrifugation or filtration can be employed as physical methods to isolate certain components or to clarify the sample. These various approaches are necessary as different contaminants and analytes may require specific preservation methods to ensure accurate detection and quantification during subsequent analysis.

This multifaceted approach to sample preservation helps prevent degradation of the sample matrix and maintains the integrity of the analytical results, making it a critical aspect of environmental laboratory practices. Other options are too limited in scope, focusing only on singular methods or inadequate storage conditions that do not encompass the full range of preservation techniques.