Support Services

Alpha offers a variety of environmental project planning and sample collection services to support our clients. First, we strive to first understand our client’s needs and then expand our services accordingly.  To that end, we have developed tools that help them  be more efficient in everyday tasks associated with project planning, sample collection, logistics, data management, data usability and report preparation. Complementing our quality analytical testing, we currently offer technical and project management support as value-added services. Alpha strives to help bring time and cost efficiencies to your environmental testing programs. 

Project Management

Alpha’s  project managers are uniquely qualified and experienced in environmental testing, as well as current compliance standards. Each of our experts follows the latest  federal and state guidance/regulations, and creates a compliance plan. Our goal is  to meet  regulatory requirements and clients’ expectations in their  practice areas. 

Our project managers act as a single point of contact for their assigned customers in order to efficiently oversee the following: 

• quickly responding to work requests
• reviewing requirements for projects
• submitting sample receipt confirmations to their clients daily
• scheduling couriers and samplers
• maintaining lab schedules
• ensuring technical requirements are met
• providing technical guidance and ensure data is reported timely and accurately. 
   

Account Management 

In addition to highly qualified project managers, Alpha also retains skilled account managers located in the Northeast and Midwest. Each account manager also has extensive experience in the environmental testing industry and is knowledgeable about  

federal and state testing guidance and regulations. Their routine responsibilities include, but are not limited to; account management, account maintenance, technical training, providing regulatory updates, sharing on-line data access tutorials, reviewing contracts, setting up and evaluating projects and following up on  accounts receivable. 

Logistics

Courier Support

Alpha's courier service is provided as a courtesy to all clients within the region for the delivery of sample containers and/or pick-up of samples at your office or project site. We require a minimum 24-hour notification, but we will try to accommodate customers in an emergency. Also, our laboratories and service centers are ready to serve our customers in the event that it is more convenient to pick-up sample containers or drop-off samples at one of our facilities. For sample delivery outside of our normal business hours, please call a project manager, service center manager or account manager to make special arrangements.  To get directions to our facilities, click here.

Electronic Chain of Custodies

Alpha provides environmental testing Chain of Custody (COC) templates to our clients so  they can efficiently document and track all aspects of their project, from routine air analysis, to sample submission and sample container requests. These COC templates can be downloaded, filled out with specific company and contact information and stored on the clients’ computer, or other devices, for ease in setting up future Alpha Analytics sample container order(s) or client projects. The completed COC can be used to place your container order or advanced preparation for your next field sampling event.

Alpha’s COC templates save our clients time and money by eliminating unnecessary steps. To download a COC template, visit our Chain of Custody page. Use the MS Excel or MS Word version to create your own documents.

Pre-labeled Sample Containers

Pre-labeled sample containers are provided by Alpha Analytical with the client and project name/ID/analysis and other details. Our pre-labeled sample containers, with glassware segregated by sample location, reduces our clients’  field operations time preparing bottle ware for sample collection. To see how this feature can help streamline your project, contact us with a  listing of your project specifications (e.g., name/sample ID’s, analysis/sample date). 

Other Value-Added Services

Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Table Support

Our technical sales and dedicated client service representatives can assist with project scope requirements including choosing the right methods and reporting limits, identifying specific project requirements, and communicating them to the Alpha operations staff. Your Alpha project manager can generate Excel tables with typical quality control information for inclusion in your project's Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). This information  includes,  but is not limited to tables summarizing methods, bottle types, preservatives, holding times, compound lists with reporting and method detection limits, as well as precision and accuracy limits for various quality control indicators.

Data Management

Alpha’s key to the seamless transmission of data is our Laboratory Information Management System, or LIMS. Alpha is currently using a third-generation LIMS that, takes advantage of a client/server technology and an Oracle database. The new LIMS  brings data entry and reporting to new levels of accuracy and productivity and is compliant with the EPA’s Good Automated Laboratory Procedures (GALP). The LIMS eliminates the manual data entry issue by downloading the data, including QC results, directly from the instrument for over 95% of the lab. This automated data acquisition capability eliminates transcription errors and allows for electronic generation of data packages and electronic data deliverables that can all be uploaded to our online data portal. 

Data Packages 

Capturing the data electronically enables Alpha to easily produce a variety of deliverables packages that meet the most stringent state and federal validation criteria. Regulatory packages routinely generated include Level 1- Level 4 type deliverables. These, and other data packages, are bookmarked and available on the Alpha Data Exchange (ADEx) portal in PDF format.

Electronic Deliverables

Alpha’s convenient Electronic Data Deliverable (EDD) formats can be generated automatically by the LIMS with no manual intervention. This method enables the preparation of data files with no additional special handling. This system also greatly reduces the potential for transcription errors and discrepancies between electronic and hardcopy reporting. 

For standard reporting options, Alpha offers a wide array of standard EDD formats including Excel, ASCII, GIS-Key, EQUiS, NJ Hazsite EDD and  Envirodata. Alpha has extensive experience in generating and checking EQUIS and other types of EDDs not offered by Alpha.

Online Data Access

Alpha also has sophisticated online reporting capabilities. Using ADEx allows you to check project status and download your data and a summary report directly from our website in several formats, all delivered as a PDF.  These electronic data formats are automatically generated with no manual data entry or manipulation. Using ADEx can dramatically minimize your office’s data reduction and reporting level of effort with a zero tolerance for transcription errors.   

Alpha clients have access to their data 24/7 via their individual, password-protected ADEx account. Laboratory reports, chain of custodies, invoices and electronic deliverable files are available to our clients via our website as soon as they are finalized and remain  online for a minimum of 10 years after they are generated.  

In addition, Alpha has developed a new Excel “Data Merger” system that compares and contrasts data to a multitude of federal and state action limits. Data Merger automatically highlights and summarizes results that exceed the applicable criteria and can be queried  for a multitude of orders.

 Please contact your client services or account representative to find out how we can support your environmental testing project.

Sampling Reference Guides

Compliance with analysis-specific container and preservation requirements is a critical component to the sample collection process. In order to provide assistance to our clients during this stage of their projects, Alpha has a number of sampling reference guides which provide information on appropriate container type, required preservation, minimum sample volumes and associated method holding times for a variety of analytical parameters.

• Aqueous Sample Reference Guide
• Soil/Solid Sample Reference Guide
• Sediment Sample Reference Guide
• Tissue Sample Reference Guide
• Oil/NAPL/Product Sample Reference Guide

 

Aqueous Sample Reference Guide

• Inorganics
• Volatile Organics By GC/MS
• Extractable Organics By GC/MS
• Extractable Organics By GC
• Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Soil/Solid Sample Reference Guide

• Inorganics
• Volatile Organics By GC/MS
• Extractable Organics By GC/MS
• Extractable Organics By GC
• Petroleum Hydrocarbons
• TCLP

Sediment Sample Reference Guide

• Inorganics
• Volatile Organics By GC/MS
• Extractable Organics By GC/MS
• Extractable Organics By GC
• Petroleum Hydrocarbons
• TCLP

Tissue Sample Reference Guide

• Inorganics
• Extractable Organics

Oil / NAPL / Product Sample Reference Guide

• Extractable Organics By GC/MS
• Petroleum Hydrocarbons
• Volatile Organics by GC/MS

 

Aqueous Sample Reference Guide

Inorganics
Analyses	Methods	Container	Sugg. Qty.	Preservative	Holding Time
Alkalinity	SM2320B	Plastic	250 ml	4°C	14 Days
Ammonia	350.1, SM4500NH3-BH	Plastic	250 ml	H2SO4, pH<2, 4°C	28 Days
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)	SM5210B	Plastic	500 ml	4° C	48 Hours
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)	410.4, SM5220D	Plastic	250 ml	H2SO4, pH<2, 4° C	28 Days
Chloride	9251, 300.0, SM4500Cl-E	Plastic	250 ml	4° C	28 Days
Cyanide	335.1, 9010B, SM4500CN-CE, MADEP	Plastic	250 ml	NaOH, pH>12, 4°C	14 Days
Fluoride	300.0, SM4500F-B, BC	Plastic	500 ml	4° C	28 Days
Formaldehyde	8315, PCAM (Mod.)	Amber Glass	1000 ml	4° C	3 Days
Hexavalent Chromium (Cr+6)	7196A, SM3500Cr-D	Plastic	500 ml	4° C	24 Hours
MBAS	425.1, SM5540C	Plastic	1000 ml	4° C	48 Hours
Nitrate	300.0, 353.2, SM4500NO3 -F	Plastic	250 ml	4° C	48 Hours
Nitrate/Nitrite	353.2, SM4500NO3 -F	Plastic	250 ml	H2SO4 , pH<2, 4° C	28 Days
Nitrite	353.2, SM4500NO3 -F, SM4500N02 -B	Plastic	250 ml	4° C	48 Hours
Nitrogen, Total Kjeldahl (TKN)	353.3/.1 (Modified), SM4500Norg-C	Plastic	250 ml	H2SO4, pH<2, 4° C	28 Days
Oil & Grease	1664A	Amber Glass	(2) 1000 ml	HCI, pH<2, 4° C	28 Days
Orthophosphate	SM4500P-E	Plastic	250 ml	4° C	48 Hours
pH	150.1, 9040B	Plastic	250 ml	4° C	Immediate
Phosphorous, Total	SM4500P-E	Plastic	250 ml	H2SO4, pH<2, 4° C	28 Days
Solids, Total (TS)	2540B	Plastic	250 ml	4° C	7 Days
Solids, Total Dissolved (TDS)	SM2540C	Plastic	500 ml	4° C	7 Days
Solids, Total Suspended (TSS)	SM2540D	Plastic	1000 ml	4° C	7 Days
Solids, Total Volatile (TVS)	SM2540E	Plastic	500 ml	4° C	7 Days
Sulfate	9038, SM4500SO4 -E, 300.0	Plastic	250 ml	4° C	28 Days
Sulfide	9030B, SM4500S2 -AD	Plastic	(2) 250 ml	ZnOAC, NaOH, pH>9, 4° C	7 Days
Total Metals	200.7, 200.8, 6010B, 6010C, 6020, 6020A, 7000A	Plastic	500 ml	HNO3, pH<2, 4° C	180 Days, Hg 28 days
Total Organic Carbon (TOC)	415.1, 9060, SM5310C	Amber Glass	(2) 40 ml VOA Vials	H2SO4, pH<2, 4° C	28 Days
Total Phenol	420.1, 9065, SM510ABC	Amber Glass	(2) 1000 ml	H2SO4, pH<2, 4° C	28 Days
Total Residual Chlorine	SM4500Cl-D	Plastic	500 ml	4° C	24 Hours
Turbidity	180.1, SM2130B	Plastic	500 ml	4° C	48 Hours

Volatile Organics by GC/MS
Analyses	Methods	Container	Sugg. Qty.	Preservative	Holding Time
Volatile Organics	524.2	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 40 ml VOA Vials	Ascorbic Acid, HCL, pH<2, 4° C	14 Days
Volatile Organics	624	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 40 ml VOA Vials	Na2S2O3, 4° C	7 Days
Volatile Organics	8260B	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 40 ml VOA Vials	HCL, pH<2, 4° C	14 Days

Extractable Organics by GC/MS
Analyses	Methods	Container	Sugg. Qty.	Preservative	Holding Time
Acid/Base Neutral Extractables (ABN)	8270C	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	4° C	7 Days (Extraction)
Acid/Base Neutral Extractables (ABN)	625	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	Na2S2O3, 4° C	7 Days (Extraction)
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)	625	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	Na2S2O3, 4° C	7 Days (Extraction)
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)	8270C, 8270C-SIM	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	4° C	7 Days (Extraction)

Extractable Organics by GC
Analyses	Methods	Container	Sugg. Qty.	Preservative	Holding Time
Pesticides (Organochlorine)	8081A, 8081B	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	4° C	7 Days (Extraction)
Pesticides (Organochlorine)	608	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	Na2S2O3, 4° C	7 Days (Extraction)
PCBs	8082, 8082A	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	4° C	None (Extraction)
PCBs	608	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	Na2S2O3, 4° C	7 Days (Extraction)
Chlorinated Herbicides	8151A	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	4° C	7 Days (Extraction)

Petroleum Hydrocarbons
Analyses	Methods	Container	Sugg. Qty.	Preservative	Holding Time
MA-DEP EPH	EPH-04-1	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	HCl, pH<2, 4° C	14 Days (Extraction)
MA-DEP VPH	VPH-04-1.1	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 40 ml VOA Vials	HCl, pH<2, 4° C	14 Days
CT ETPH	CT ETPH	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	4° C	7 Day (Extraction)
TPH - Oil & Grease	EPA 1664A	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	HCl, pH<2, 4° C	28 Days
ME DEP TPH DRO	ME 4.1.25	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	HCl, pH<2, 4° C	7 Days (Extraction)
ME DEP TPH GRO	ME 4.2.17	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 40 ml VOA Vials	HCl, pH<2, 4° C	14 Days
TPH-DRO	8015B	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	4° C	7 Days (Extraction)
TPH-GRO	8015B	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 40 ml VOA Vials	HCl, pH<2, 4° C	14 Days
TPH GC/FID Quantitation only	8015B (M)	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	4° C	7 Days (Extraction)
Petroleum Hydrocarbon Identification (PHI)	8015B (M)	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	(2) 1000 ml	4° C	7 Days (Extraction)

Soil/Solid Sample Reference Guide

Inorganics
Analyses	Methods	Container	Sugg. Qty.	Preservative	Holding Time
Ammonia	SM4500NH3-B	Amber Glass	4 oz Container	4° C	28 Days
Cyanide	9010B, 9012A, 9014, SM4500CN-CE, MADEP	Amber Glass	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days
Hexavalent Chromium (Cr+6)	7196A	Amber Glass	4 oz Container	4° C	30 Days
Mercury	7471A, 7471B, 7474	Amber Glass	4 oz Container	4° C	28 Days
Metals	6010B, 6010C, 6020, 6020A, 7000A	Amber Glass	4 oz Container	4° C	180 Days
pH	9045C	Amber Glass	4 oz Container	4° C	Immediate
Total Organic Carbon (TOC)	Lloyd Kahn (LK) Method,       9060	Amber Glass	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (LK) 28 Days (9060)
Total Phenol	9065	Amber Glass	4 oz Container	4° C	28 Days

Volatile Organics by GC/MS
Analyses	Methods	Container	Sugg. Qty.	Preservative	Holding Time
Volatile Organics	8260B / 5035, (High Level)	40 ml Amber VOA Vial	15 Grams	MeOH, 4° C	14 Days
Volatile Organics	8260B / 5035, (Low Level)	(2) 40 ml Amber VOA	5 Grams	NaSO4, 4° C	14 Days
Volatile Organics	8260B / 5035, (Low Level)	(2) 40 ml Amber VOA	5 Grams	Water, 4° C	48 Hours

Extractable Organics by GC/MS
Analyses	Methods	Container	Sugg. Qty.	Preservative	Holding Time
Acid/Base Neutral Extractables (ABN)	8270C	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)	8270C, 8270C-SIM	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)

Extractable Organics by GC
Analyses	Methods	Container	Sugg. Qty.	Preservative	Holding Time
Pesticides (Organochlorine)	8081A, 8081B	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)
PCBs	8082, 8082A	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)
Chlorinated Herbicides	8151A	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)

Petroleum Hydrocarbons
Analyses	Methods	Container	Sugg. Qty.	Preservative	Holding Time
MA-DEP EPH	EPH-04-1	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)
MA-DEP VPH	VPH-04-1.1	40 ml Amber VOA Vial	15 Grams	MeOH, 4° C	28 Days
TPH-8100M	GC-FID Qualitative Fingerprint	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)
CT ETPH	CT ETPH	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)
TPH - Oil & Grease	EPA 1664A	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	4 oz Container	4° C	28 Days
ME DEP TPH DRO	ME 4.1.25	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)
ME DEP TPH GRO	ME 4.2.17	40 ml Amber VOA Vial	15 Grams	MeOH, 4° C	14 Days
TPH-DRO	8015B	Amber Glass	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)
TPH-GRO	8015B	40 ml Amber VOA Vial	15 Grams	MeOH, 4° C	14 Days
TPH GC/FID Quantitation only	8015B (M)	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)
Petroleum Hydrocarbon Identification (PHI)	8015B (M)	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	4 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)

TCLP
Analyses	Methods	Container	Sugg. Qty.	Preservative	Holding Time
Volatiles	1311, 8260B	Large Amber Glass VOA Vial Teflon Lined	8 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)
Semivolatiles	1311, 8270C, 8081A, 8081B, 8151A	Amber Glass Teflon Lined	8 oz Container	4° C	14 Days (Extraction)
Metals	1311, 6010B, 6010C, 6020, 6020A, 7000A	Amber Glass	4 oz Container	4° C	180 Days (Extraction)
Mercury	1311, 7470A	Amber Glass	4 oz Container	4° C	28 Days (Extraction)

Environmental Sampling Services

Schedule a Sampling Event

Alpha Analytical realizes the complexity of sample collection and makes every effort to provide environmental sampling services to assist our clients during their project planning stage. Although Alpha does not perform the sampling, we do work cooperatively with sampling providers to assist you with your collection needs.

If you are interested in discussing a sampling event with us or would like us to prepare a quotation for sampling, please fill out the form below and click "Send Request".

Alpha staff will contact you to discuss how our environmental sampling services can fit your needs and how we can assist you with your sampling events.

 

Enter your contact information and sampling requirements.

Environmental Sample Containers

Sampling Container Orders

All sample containers are provided by Alpha upon request as a courtesy. We require a minimum of a 24-hour notification, but we will try to accommodate you in an emergency. Sample containers are provided with labels, preservatives and Alpha Chain-of-Custody forms.

Deionized water can be provided upon request for equipment and field blanks. In addition, Alpha is willing to provide sample containers for field screening at a fee. Please contact us for a quotation at 1-800-624-9220.

Sample Container Orders

If you would like to place an order for sample containers, please fill out the form below and click "Place Order". Once we have received your container order, we will email you within 24 hours of receipt as confirmation of your order request. The order will then be processed for delivery or pickup, as requested. If this is a standard container order previously established with Alpha, you need only complete Steps One and Two of the form below.