What does sample integrity refer to?

Sample integrity refers specifically to the accurate representation of a sample's condition throughout the testing process. It is critical that the sample, once collected, remains true to its original state to ensure that the results of any subsequent analysis accurately reflect the characteristics of the material being tested. This encompasses all factors that could affect the sample, such as contamination, degradation, or changes in concentration, which could lead to misleading conclusions about the sample's composition or quality.

Cleanliness, while relevant to the purity of a sample, does not encompass all of the factors that determine its integrity. The speed of sample collection and the temperature of the sample are also important aspects of sample handling but are more focused on the logistics of sampling rather than ensuring that the sample remains representative of the original material. Thus, the primary focus of sample integrity is on maintaining the sample in a condition that reflects its true characteristics until analysis is performed.