Manage lab report samples
A Lab Report's samples are the lab's own list of what it received and ran — both the field samples it analyzed and the laboratory quality-control (QC) samples it generated. Each Lab Analysis anchors to a field Sample, to one of these report samples, or to both; a lab QC analysis anchors only to a report sample, so record those QC samples before adding their analyses. They live on the Lab Report's Samples tab.
- Permission: You need permission to edit the Lab Report's project data.
- Prerequisites: The Lab Report must exist — see Manage lab data.
Steps
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Open the Lab Report (see Manage lab data), then select the Samples tab.
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Select Add. The sample form opens.
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Enter the fields:
Field Required What to enter Code Yes The lab's code for the sample Origin Yes Field (a field sample the lab received) or Lab (a QC sample the lab created) QC Type Conditional Required when Origin is Lab; not allowed for Field. One of Method Blank, Laboratory Control Sample, Laboratory Control Sample Duplicate, Matrix Spike, Matrix Spike Duplicate, or Laboratory Duplicate Batch-only QC No Mark a QC sample that belongs to a batch rather than a specific field sample (Lab origin only) Prepared By No The lab technician who prepared it Parent Lab Sample No The source sample a spike or duplicate was derived from (Lab origin only) % Moisture No Percent moisture as reported by the lab, wet (as-received) basis expected — moisture as a percent of the as-received sample mass, so 0–100. Must not be negative. Values above 100 warn but save as entered, because some sources report dry-basis gravimetric water content (water ÷ dry solids), which legitimately exceeds 100% for peat, organic sediment, and sludge. Erde stores the value as reported and never computes with it Notes No Optional notes -
Select Add. The sample appears in the list.
Result
The Samples tab lists each sample with its Code, Origin, QC Type, Batch-only flag, Prepared By, Parent, % Moisture, and Notes. These samples are now available to anchor Lab Analyses. Edit or delete any row from its row menu.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Saving reports a QC type is required | Origin is Lab but no QC Type is set | Choose a QC Type, or set Origin to Field |
| Saving rejects the QC type or batch-only flag | Origin is Field — these apply only to lab QC | Clear the QC type / batch-only flag, or set Origin to Lab |
Related
- Lab analyses and results — the analyses that anchor to these samples.
- Manage lab batches — record the report's batches and assign analyses their typed batches.
- Manage lab data — create the Lab Report and its analyses and results.