What is the purpose of a chain of custody in water testing?

The purpose of a chain of custody in water testing is to record sample handling history. This process involves documenting every individual who handled the sample from the moment it was collected until it is analyzed. This documentation is crucial for establishing the integrity and credibility of the samples, ensuring that they were not tampered with and have remained uncontaminated throughout the testing process. A detailed chain of custody helps to maintain the legal validity of the sample, which is particularly important in regulatory scenarios where water quality can have significant health and environmental implications.

The concept of the chain of custody is foundational to quality assurance in environmental testing. It provides a transparent mechanism that can be reviewed when necessary, such as in a court of law, to ensure that the results obtained are reliable and valid. While preserving samples, documenting testing procedures, and verifying water quality are important considerations in water testing, they relate more to the overall procedure rather than the specific documentation of sample handling that the chain of custody addresses.