Analysis	Typical samples
Combustion byproduct — characterization	Soot, char, and ash on tape lifts, wipes, bulk residue, air, or microvac. Used for insurance, public adjusting, and post-fire cleanup checks.
Combustion byproduct — qualitative	Presence / absence of combustion particles when you only need a yes-or-no.
Dust characterization — airborne	Spore-trap, PCM, or TEM cassettes.
Dust characterization — settled	Surface dust on tape, wipe, bulk, or microvac.
Mold	Spore traps, tape lifts / direct exam, or bulk material.
Advanced SEM/TEM with EDS	When optical microscopy is not enough — morphology and elemental composition.
Soot source identification	Raman and/or TEM to help separate sources (structure fire, wildfire, diesel, etc). Call first. Minimum 5-day TAT.

Step-by-Step Submission

1. Pick the analysis and download the matching chain-of-custody form from Client Resources.
2. Collect the sample. Use the media codes on the COC: TL = tape lift, W = wipe, B = bulk, A = air, MV = microvac.
3. Label every container with a unique sample ID that matches the COC line (location + surface + date).
4. Fill out the COC completely: contact and email, project / site address, invoice info, requested TAT, analysis type, and a signature on Relinquished By.
5. Package so bags cannot leak and slides / cassettes cannot crush. Put the COC in a separate sleeve — not inside a dirty sample bag.
6. Ship or drop off at the laboratory address below. Overnight is best for rush work.
7. Results go out as a PDF to the email on the COC. Call if you need status.

Where to Send Samples

Write the project name and sample count on the box. “Laboratory samples” is enough for the carrier. Do not ship to a P.O. box.

Chain of Custody — Required

No completed COC, no start of TAT. Download the form that matches the work from Client Resources:

• Combustion Byproduct COC — soot, char, ash, fire / wildfire residue
• Dust Characterization COC — airborne or settled dust
• Mold COC — spore trap, direct exam, bulk
• Materials & Forensic COC — unknown particles, contamination source, product ID

Also on that page: the fee schedule, certificates of insurance, and an example CBP report.

On the form, use the sample-type codes TL / W / B / A / MV and record area or air volume when you have it. Sign and date Relinquished By. Samples remain the client’s property until analysis is complete. The lab is not responsible for sample integrity before receipt.

Homeowners: How to Collect

After a fire or wildfire (combustion byproducts)

You are looking for soot, char, and ash on surfaces that were exposed to smoke — not for a whole-house demolition sample. Take several small, well-labeled samples from different rooms and heights.

1. Wash hands. Wear disposable gloves. If ash is still loose, a dust mask helps.
2. Tape lift (best first choice on hard surfaces): press clear tape onto the film, lift, and stick it to a clean slide or fold it onto itself inside a small bag. Do not let the sticky side collect pocket lint.
3. Wipe: wipe a defined area (for example 100 cm² or a 4×4 inch square) with a clean wipe. Fold the dirty side in. Bag it.
4. Bulk: scrape or lift a small amount of visible residue into a bag. A pinch is enough.
5. Label each bag: Sample 1 — living room TV stand, top surface — date.
6. Take at least one sample from an area you believe was protected (inside a closed cabinet) if you want a comparison.

Do not wipe an entire wall into one bag. Do not send a shop-vac full of debris. Small and specific beats large and mixed.

Mold or stained surfaces

1. If growth covers more than about 10 square feet, or someone in the house is medically sensitive, consider a qualified inspector. The lab analyzes samples; we do not inspect homes.
2. Tape lift: press clear tape on the stain, lift, protect the sticky side, bag it.
3. Bulk: cut a coin-sized piece of stained drywall paper, caulk, or wood. Bag it. Do not add bleach or water.
4. Spore-trap air samples need a calibrated pump. Homeowners who want air data should hire an inspector or ask us about media before sampling.

Settled dust / IAQ

1. Tape or wipe a horizontal surface that actually collects dust (top of a door trim, refrigerator, return grille).
2. Note whether the surface is high, low, near a window, or near HVAC.
3. If you have a microvac cassette and pump, follow the cassette instructions and record the area sampled.

Unknown material or forensic question

Bag a small piece or residue. Tell us on the COC what you think it is and what you need to know (what is it, where did it come from, is it combustion-related). Call first if you want SEM, Raman, or soot-source work so we can confirm media and TAT.

Professional Clients

Adjusters, restorers, and IH consultants:

• Use one COC per project. Keep sample IDs identical on the bag, the photo log, and the form.
• Mark TAT on the COC and text or call if the box must be on a 6- or 12-hour clock. Six-hour TAT is capped at 10 samples.
• Record area or air volume. Characterization reports are stronger when loading can be expressed as area % or counts/mm².
• Send comparison samples when you have them (unaffected room, outdoor control, pre-clean vs. post-clean).
• For soot-source identification, call before you ship. That work has a minimum 5-day TAT and limited instrument time.
• Net 30 on invoice unless we have agreed otherwise.

Packaging Checklist

• Each sample in its own sealed bag or cassette.
• Double-bag dirty wipes and bulk residue.
• Protect tape-lift slides and air cassettes from being crushed.
• COC in a clean outer sleeve.
• Your phone and email on the COC — that is how the report is delivered.
• Ship to 2755 Wentworth St, Reidsville, NC 27320.

Do not send dripping wet wipes without a sealed bag, a five-gallon bucket of ash, or samples with no IDs.

What Happens After Arrival

We log the COC, assign a PDS project number, and check condition. Analysis starts when the paperwork matches the containers. You receive a PDF report. If a sample is unlabeled, mixed, or the wrong media for the method you asked for, we will call before we guess.

Turnaround & Fees

TAT options on current work typically run 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144+ business hours from receipt with a completed COC. Rush slots are not guaranteed until we confirm them. Volume discounts are available on larger projects.

Do not screenshot an old price list into a bid. Download the current Fee Schedule from Client Resources or ask for a quote.

When to Call Us First

• Same-day or weekend rush.
• Soot-source identification or advanced SEM / Raman / TEM.
• A large fire claim with many rooms and comparison samples.
• You are a homeowner and do not know whether to take a tape lift or hire an inspector.
• You need consulting on how to read a report for an insurer or contractor.

This page is instructional. It is not a home inspection, medical advice, or a substitute for licensed abatement. Confirm current methods, fees, and turnaround with the laboratory before you sample.