Sample storage and shipment

Most samples should be shipped as soon as possible after collection, ideally the same day or next day after collection. However, we do not recommend sending samples over weekends.

Where you are not able to ship samples as above, you should look to store samples appropriately before shipping.

• Blood samples should be refrigerated before shipping. Note: blood cholinesterase samples should be sent immediately where possible.
• Urine samples can generally be frozen prior to shipping. It is generally not necessary to maintain the samples frozen during transit as long as they are received promptly.

 

As part of the analysis cost, we provide freepost return shipping within the UK. Our experience shows that most samples are received at the laboratory within three days of posting (usually next day) and this is within the sample storage criteria for most of our common tests. Where samples are received more than three days after posting, a flag will be added to the report. In these cases, you should review the integrity of the samples following the guidelines below:

• Where samples have been despatched the same day or next day after collection, and have been received by the laboratory within three days of posting, there should be no integrity issues.
• Where samples have been refrigerated or frozen as appropriate prior to shipping and have been received by the laboratory within three days of posting, there should be no integrity issues.
• There should be no integrity issues for samples for metals analysis where samples have been received within 14 days of posting.
• Samples for TDI must be received in appropriate bottles containing preservative and should be received within three days of posting.

Outside of these guidelines, you should consider resampling. Where samples have been posted and not received at the laboratory within 14 days, we will advise that analysis is inappropriate and resampling is recommended.