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Sample Management and Chain of Custody

Focuses on the practical controls needed to protect sample integrity from field collection through to disposal, including labelling, transport, storage and documented chain of custody. Draws on examples from environmental, water, mining and forensic style testing relevant to South African and regional laboratories facing long transport distances and variable field conditions.

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What you will be able to do

  • Apply correct labelling and identification practices to incoming samples.
  • Complete chain of custody documentation accurately at each transfer point.
  • Manage sample storage conditions, holding times and preservation requirements.
  • Handle sample receipt discrepancies and rejection criteria consistently.
  • Maintain traceability of samples through preparation, testing and archiving.
  • Dispose of retained samples in line with documented procedures and timeframes.

Course outline

  1. 01Principles of sample integrity
  2. 02Labelling and unique identification
  3. 03Chain of custody documentation
  4. 04Transport, storage and preservation
  5. 05Holding times and stability limits
  6. 06Handling non conforming samples
  7. 07Traceability through the testing process
  8. 08Retention, archiving and disposal

Who should attend

Sample reception staff, laboratory technicians, field samplers and quality officers responsible for sample integrity.

Dates, venues and fees

DatesVenueDaysFeeCalendarRegister
28 to 29 Sep 2026Blantyre2US$1,100Closed
29 to 30 Sep 2026Mozambique2US$1,100Register
30 Sep to 1 Oct 2026Nairobi2US$1,100Register
1 to 2 Oct 2026Dar es Salaam2US$1,100Register
5 to 6 Oct 2026Kigali2US$1,100Register
6 to 7 Oct 2026Kampala2US$1,100Register
7 to 8 Oct 2026Accra2US$1,100Register
8 to 9 Oct 2026Lagos2US$1,100Register
12 to 13 Oct 2026Cairo2US$1,100Register
13 to 14 Oct 2026Mauritius2US$1,100Register
14 to 15 Oct 2026Dubai2US$1,100Register
15 to 16 Oct 2026Online2US$900Register
26 to 27 Nov 2026Johannesburg2R10,000Register
30 Nov to 1 Dec 2026Cape Town2R10,000Register
1 to 2 Dec 2026Durban2R10,000Register
2 to 3 Dec 2026Pretoria2R10,000Register
3 to 4 Dec 2026Windhoek2US$1,100Register
7 to 8 Dec 2026Gaborone2US$1,100Register
8 to 9 Dec 2026Maseru2US$1,100Register
9 to 10 Dec 2026Mbabane2US$1,100Register
10 to 11 Dec 2026Lusaka2US$1,100Register
14 to 15 Dec 2026Harare2US$1,100Register
17 to 18 Dec 2026Lilongwe2US$1,100Register

Fees are per delegate. South African venues are priced in rand; other locations and online in US dollars. Fees exclude 15% VAT where applicable. Group bookings of three or more delegates from the same organisation qualify for a reduced rate; contact us for a quotation.

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