1. Sample collection

When the analysis laboratory is not in charge of the sampling strategy and operations, it must generally assume that the sample to be analyzed has been taken from the right place and in compliance with the protocols guaranteeing its representativeness of the area sampled. However, for a sample to be analysable, and for the results of the analyses carried out to be usable, the laboratory must ensure that the sample submitted has a certain number of characteristics which meet the criteria detailed in the following paragraphs.