Microbiology Analytical Service Guide

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A&B ENVIRONMETAL SERVICES, INC

AIHA ACCREDITED & NELAP CERTIFIED LAB

10100 East Freeway Houston, TX 77029
Toll Free: 877.478.6060
(P) 713.453.6060 (F) 713.453.6091
ablabs.com

MICROBIOLOGY TESTING SERVICE GUIDE

Microbiology Terms and Conditions…………..…………………………………..BIO 3

A&B Labs Map of Certification States for Environmental Testing…………….BIO 8

Microbiology Testing Pricing

Alphabetical Order of Microbiology Testing……….….………..………..BIO 9

Terms and Abbreviations……………………………………………………….….BIO 15

MICROBIOLOGY TERMS & CONDITIONS

A&B LABS is an independent minority owned analytical laboratory established in
1988. We offer an extensive array of analytical capabilities in environmental, industrial
hygiene, microbiology and food safety areas. A&B Laboratories has an unmatched
commitment to quality data and personalized service. We utilize EPA, NIOSH, OSHA,
FDA/BAM and AOAC methodology

At A&B Laboratories, our mission is to deliver quality analytical services to our clients
while following ethical practices and providing stellar customer service with continual
improvement

ANALYTICAL REPORTS AND DATA DELIVERABLE PACKAGES

A&B Labs provides a Level II QA Report Deliverable Package as our standard reporting
package. This report includes a case narrative, spiked sample and spiked duplicate
results, surrogate recoveries, laboratory control, blank results, sample condition
checklist and sample chain of custody. PDF copies of reports are available and A&B
Labs reserves the right to send PDF summary report pages whenever possible. The
standard analysis turnaround time for Level II Reports is seven (7) Business days. Hard
copy reports will be mailed within 48 hours after the reports are sent via email to the
client. Original analytical reports, invoices and original chain of custodies will be sent to
the client as well.

ELECTRONIC DELIVERABLE PACKAGES (EDD’s)

A&B Labs can provide client specific EDD’s to meet specifications. Surcharges for such
packages may apply. Contact Sales and/or Project Management for more information.

On-line capabilities include:

ƒ Viewing of results via the web

ƒ Access data 24/7

ƒ Access complete PDF reports

ƒ Download results in Excel

Format

ƒ View summary of completed tests

ƒ Track the status of samples

ƒ Sample receipt notification

TURNAROUND TIME AND RUSH POLICY

The Standard Turnaround Time for A&B Labs is Seven (7) Business days. A&B Labs
counts the turnaround time as follows: Day Zero (0) is when our lab receives the project;
Day One (1) is counted as the next business day. Weekend and holidays are not
counted for Turnaround Time Calculations. Our normal working hours are Monday- Friday, 8am-5pm

– BIO 3 –

A&B LABS MICROBIOLOGY TERMS AND CONDITIONS 01.10.2008

counts the turnaround time as followsMICROBIOLOGY TERMS & CONDITIONS

To guarantee Rush Turnaround Time for your project, all rush requests must be
confirmed with the lab prior to shipment of samples. A&B Labs cannot and will not
guarantee rush request unless lab is notified in advance. The following surcharges will
apply for Rush Turn Around Times:

Rush Turn Around Time	Surcharge
Same Day	200%
1 Day	100%
2 Day	75%
3 Day	50%
5 Day	25%

Some parameters may not be able to be performed within a 24 or 48-hour period. The
Lab may limit the number of Rush samples accepted in one day. 1 Day Rush samples
will be reported by 5:00 PM (Central Time) the day after the samples are received at the
lab. 1 Day Rush samples may only be able to be analyzed once within the first 24-Hour
Rush. TAT may not be able to be met if dilutions are required, or if matrix interferences
are present. In this case, estimated values may be given to the client within 24 hours
after receipt of the sample with the surcharge still applicable.

INVOICING POLICY

A&B Labs will invoice the client with a copy of analytical reports and original chain of
Custody (COC). Invoices will reflect prices listed in the quotation setup by your sales
and/or project manager. Any parameters analyzed that are not included on the pricing
agreement will be billed at A&B Lab’s 2008 list price less 10%. The client is responsible
for supplying any required P.O. Numbers, Project Code Numbers, etc. Terms are Net
30 days. For International projects payments arrangement must be made in advance.

SAMPLE MEDIA AND SAMPLE PICKUP POLICY

A&B Labs will provide routine sample kits at no additional charge provided the
laboratory is given at least 24 hours notice, in some cases charges may be applied for
rush kits. These routine kits include the proper bottles, preservations, labels, chain of
custody forms and Federal Express return shipment forms with A&B Lab’s ID number.
Cassettes and other media may be available for an additional charge. A&B Labs may
also agree to provide sample pick-up free of charge within a 25-mile radius of our
facility, please contact the A&B Sales and/or Project Management Department to
determine if this service will be available for your site.

SHIPMENT OF OUTGOING MEDIA FROM A&B LABS TO THE CLIENT

A&B Labs will pay for the outgoing media shipment costs only if the kit order is received
early enough (typically 4 to 5 business days) to use the most cost efficient means of
shipping available (Examples: UPS Ground Service, FedEx Ground, FedEx Express 30 Day)

– BIO 4 –

A&B LABS MICROBIOLOGY TERMS AND CONDITIONS 01.10.2008

counts the turnaround time as followsMICROBIOLOGY TERMS & CONDITIONS

For International shipping, the client is responsible for shipping cost both outbound and
inbound. Any other outgoing expedited shipments (FedEx Priority and Standard
Overnight, 2 Day, etc.) will be invoiced to the client. Charges for expedited shipments
will depend on the weight of the shipment and the applicable zone charges.

Notes:

A&B Labs agrees to provide sample bottles for samples to be analyzed by A&B Labs
only. The client or the consultant must supply any sample bottles required for analysis
by any other lab, or to be used for field screening by the consultant or any other
purposes.

Sufficient time should be given to ship kits by routine ground delivery (4 to 5-Day
notice), thus avoiding a priority shipment charge. The client should contact A&B Labs
whenever a kit is being returned for Saturday delivery, as special Fed Ex procedures
are required to be completed on the Air bill. A&B Labs will not be held responsible for
breakage of sample bottles during the return shipment to the lab.

SAMPLING PROCEDURES

LIQUIDS/SOLIDS

Please properly pack and ice down return sample kits to keep temperature at the EPA
required 4°C for liquid or solid samples. The holding time liquid or solid samples is six
(6) hours and a minimum of 4 ounces is required. Water samples only require 100
milliliters of sample. All liquid or solid samples must be packed in a sterile glass or
plastic container. A sterile bag is also acceptable.

FOODS

All food should be kept at the original temperature as well as in the original storage
container. Food should be sent or brought to the laboratory as soon as possible. If the
food cannot be stored in the original container, then a sterile bag or container is
required.

RETURN SHIPMENT OF SAMPLE KITS FROM THE FIELD TO A&B LABS

Any shipments incoming from the site to the lab, whether by FedEx, UPS, or another
carrier, will be invoiced to the client. The client will be responsible for the proper
labeling of the kits. Please note that Federal Express requires special procedures for
shipments to be delivered to the lab on Saturday.

– BIO 5 –

A&B LABS MICROBIOLOGY TERMS AND CONDITIONS 01.10.2008

A&B Labs reserves the right to reject samples for any of the following reasons:

ƒ Chain of Custody documentation not included

ƒ Discrepancies between the Chain of Custody and sample labels

ƒ Incomplete sample containers for the analysis requested

ƒ Inappropriate preservation for the analysis requested

ƒ Sample received exceeding hold time for analysis requested

ƒ Inappropriate sample labeling (not using water resistant labels and indelible ink)

ƒ Samples with signs of damage or contamination

ƒ Samples containing high levels of potentially dangerous substances or vapors
that may cause health or safety problems during sample preparation or analysis

REPLACEMENT SAMPLE POLICY

If A&B Labs fails to meet regulatory hold times or has specific errors, which are due to
the sole fault of the laboratory, A&B Labs will either retest the sample or a replacement
sample at no additional charge. A&B Labs will not be held responsible for any re- sampling costs as a normal procedure. A&B Labs will also not be liable for any charges
due to delay by any courier used for shipment of the samples including (weather,
equipment failure, acts of God, etc.)

SAMPLE DISPOSAL POLICY

A&B Labs will agree to hold all sample remainders for thirty (30) days after the final
report is issued. Request to hold samples by A&B Labs beyond this date will be charged
at a rate of $3 per sample per day. A&B Labs reserves the right to charge $3 per
sample for sample disposal. Disposal of samples is controlled and specified by A&B
Labs’ SOP (Standard Operating Procedures).

ƒ Samples determined by analysis or other characteristics to be hazardous
materials will either be returned to the client or be disposed of as follows:

ƒ The samples shall be composite as waste material. The waste shall be stored in
drums, which meet or exceed both RCRA and DOT specifications.

ƒ All drums will prominently display the appropriate DOT and RCRA labels
identifying the general contents of the drum while on-site. The drum
identifications will meet the requirements of the contracted RCRA waste disposal
service prior to off-site shipments.

ƒ All disposals of both wastes shall be fully compliant with applicable Federal and
State regulations. A&B Labs uses EPA and Texas Natural Resources
Conservation Commission approved TSD facility for handling all hazardous waste.

– BIO 6 –

A&B LABS MICROBIOLOGY TERMS AND CONDITIONS 01.10.2008

GENERAL WARRANTY

A&B Labs warrants that all work will be preformed in accordance with sound laboratory
practice and accepted analytical procedures, but make no other warranty, expressed or
implied. A&B Labs is solely responsible for performance of this contract, and no
affiliated company, director, officer, employee, agent or subcontractor of A&B
Labs shall have any legal responsibility hereunder, whether in contract or tort, or
otherwise. Liability for injury or damage to persons or property arising out of this work
(other than for professional errors, omissions, or other professional negligence, which
are covered by the next sentence) shall be limited to the amount covered by the general
comprehensive insurance carried by A&B Labs. In the event of error, omission, or other
professional negligence or any breach of the above warranty, the sole and exclusive
responsibility of A&B Labs shall be to re-perform the deficient work at its own expense,
and A&B Labs shall have no other liability whatsoever. In no event shall A&B Labs be
liable, whether in contract or tort, or otherwise for any incidental consequential or
special damages including but not limited to, damages in any way connected with or
interpretation of information or analysis provided by A&B Labs or with action related to
such use or interpretation.

– BIO 7 –

A&B LABS MICROBIOLOGY TERMS AND CONDITIONS 01.10.2008

Microbiology Testing Service Guide

Matrix
Sample Size
Container
Preservation
Holding Time
Leach/Extr/Analy
Method

Actinomyces spp

w
100 ml p
4ºC
8hours
SSSA
s
4 oz p
4ºC
N/A
SSSA

Aerobic Plate Count (APC) / TPC/Standard Plate Count

f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
8hours
CMMEF 7.63

Aerobic Plate Count (cosmetics/products-bam)

Liq/Sol
4 oz p
N/A
N/A
BAM23H1

Aerobic Plate Count-N Certified APC / HPC / TPC

w
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 9215B
s/ww
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 9215B

2 dilutions max, $20 for each additional dilution

Aerobic Plate Count (cosmetics/products-bam)

Liq/Sol
4 oz p
N/A
N/A
BAM23H1

Aerobic Plate Count-Petrifilm

f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
AOAC

Aeromonas

w/s
4 oz p
N/A
N/A
AOAC/CMMEF

Algal count

w/ww
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hours
SM

Anaerobic Plate Count

w/s
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hours
9215B mod.

Bacterial Count with Gram Stain

B/Sw/Wi/a
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hours
AOAC

Bacterial ID per Species

B/Sw/Wi/a
4 oz p
4ºC
N/A
Various

Camplylobacter-N

f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
6 hours
CMMEF

Campylobacter-N

w
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hours
SM9260G

Clostridium perfringens

w/s
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hours
f
4 oz/ orig.cont.
as is
ASAP
AOAC/CMMEF

Denitrifying Bacteria

w
100 ml p
4ºC
8 hours
SSSA
s
4 oz p
N/A
6 hours
SSSA

Denitrifying Bacteria Identification

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
SSSA
s
4 oz p
N/A
6 hours
SSSA

Drinking Water Package (Total Coliform P/A and HPC)

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 9223B

E. Coli

f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
CMMEF 35.24

E. Coli H7:0157 including H7-P/A

w
100 ml p
4ºC
ASAP
CMMEF 35.24
f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
AOAC 996.09

E. Coli-IDEXX-N Certified

w
100 ml p
4ºC
ASAP
CMMEF 35.24

E. Coli-MF-N

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 9222G

E. Coli-N-Petrifilm

f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
CMMEF/AOAC

E.Coli-Chromogenic P/A Certified

w
100 ml p
4ºC
24 hour
SM 9223B

Enterococcus-N

s/ww
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hour
SM 9230C

Fecal Coliforms-MF-N Certified

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hour
SM 9222D

Fecal Coliforms-MTF-4 dil-N certified

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hour
SM 9221E

Fecal Coliforms-N

s/ww
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hour
SM 9222D

Fecal Streptococcus mF

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hour
SM 9215B

Fecal Streptococcus-N

s/ww
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hour
SM 9230C

Filth Test

various
4 oz p
4ºC
NA
AOAC 945.80

Flavobacterium spp.

w/s
4 oz p
N/A
ASAP
Various
f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
Various

Hemolytic Bacterial Count

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
AOAC/CMMEF
s
4 oz p
N/A
6 hours
AOAC/CMMEF

Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) / APC / TPC

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 9215B
s/ww
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 9215B

2 dilutions max, $20 for each additional dilution

Iron Depositing Bacteria

s/w
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 10200

Klebsiella spp.

f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
AOAC/CMMEF

Lactic acid bacteria (Petrifilm)

f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
6 hours
AOAC

Legionella-air culture

a
air sampler
N/A (RT)
N/A
SM 9260J

Legionella-spp-P/A

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 9260J

Listeria monocytogenes

f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
AOAC/CMMEF

Listeria spp-P/A

f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
CMMEF BAM/AOAC

Luminometer Test

w/s
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hours
Bioluminescence

Microscopic Exam

various
4 oz p
4ºC
N/A
SM 10200

Mold by Agar Plate ID 3spp.

w/s
4 oz p
N/A
6 hours
Viable

Mold by Culture Counts

B/Sw/Wi/A
4 oz p
N/A (RT)
6 hours
Viable

Mold by Culture ID-3 species

B/Sw/Wi/A
4 oz p
N/A (RT)
6 hours
Viable

Mold by Direct Exam

B/Sw/Wi/T
Air Cassette
N/A
N/A
Microscopy

Pseudomonas Aeroginosa

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
SSSA/SM
s
4 oz p
N/A
6 hours
SSSA/SM

Salmonella Composite

s
4 oz p
N/A
N/A
AOAC/CMMEF
f/w
as is/
4ºC
6 hours
AOAC/CMMEF

Salmonella Sero ID Only

s
4 oz p
N/A
6 hours
AOAC/CMMEF
f/w
4 oz p
as is/ 4ºC
6 hours
AOAC/CMMEF

Salmonella spp.

w
100 ml p
N/A
6 hours
SM 9260B
f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
CMMEF BAM/AOAC

Sewage Scre

Shigella spp

f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
CMMEF BAM/AOAC

Shigella spp

w
100 ml p
N/A
6 hours
SM 9260E/ AOAC

Staphylococcus Aeureus-N Petrifilm

f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
CMMEF/AOAC

Staphylococcus Aureus Coagulase

f/w/s
Sterile Bag
as is/ 4ºC
8 hours
AOAC/CMMEF

Staphylococcus spp.-N

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 9213B

Sulfate Reducing Bacteria

w/s
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hour
SM 9240D

Total Coliform VRBA

w/f/s
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hours
AOAC/CMMEF

Total Coliforms Chromogenic P/A Certified

w
100 ml p
4ºC
24 hours
SM 9223B

Total Coliforms-IDEXX-N

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
SM9223B

Total Coliforms-MF-N certified

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 9222B

Total Coliforms-N

s/ww
4 oz p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 9222D

Total Coliforms-Petrifilm

f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
CMMEF/AOAC

Total Free Nitrogen Fixers + Bradirhizobium

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
SSSA
s
4 oz. P
N/A
6 hours
SSSA

Total Plate Count (TPC) / APC / HPC

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 9215B
s/ww
4 oz p
4ºC
48 hours
SM 9215B

2 dilutions max, $20 for each additional dilution

Total Plate Count-N

f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
CMMEF 7.63

Vibro spp-P/A

w
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 9260H
f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
CMMEF BAM

Yeast and Mold in Cosmetics

liquid/solid
4 oz p
N/A
N/A
Bam 23H2

Yeast and Mold-N

w/s/liq
100 ml p
4ºC
6 hours
SM 92610B

Yersinia spp

w/s
4 oz. P
N/A
6 hours
AOAC/CMMEF
f
4 oz/ orig. cont.
as is
ASAP
AOAC/CMMEF

Terms and Abbreviations

AIR

AOAC

Association of Official Analytical Chemists

Bulk

BAM

Bacteriological Analytical Manual

air-o-cell Casette

CMMEF

Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods

day(s)

E.coli

Escherichia coli

food

Glass

Gram

Identification

millileter

orig. cont

Original Container

ounce

mod

Modified

Liter

Modified

N/A

Not Applicable

Numbers

Polyethylene/Plastic

P/A

Presence or Absence

p/g

Plastic/Glass

R/T

Room Temperature

Soil

Standard Method

spp

Species

SSSA

Soil Science Society of America

Swab

Solid Waste

Tape

VRBA

violet red bile agar

Water

Waste Water