ISO 5667-3-2024 PDF

Full title and description

Water quality — Sampling — Part 3: Preservation and handling of water samples. This International Standard specifies general requirements and recommended practices for the preservation, handling, transport and storage of water samples intended for physicochemical, chemical, hydrobiological and microbiological analyses and for determination of radiochemical analytes and activities.

Abstract

The standard sets out procedures and precautions to preserve the integrity of water samples when on‑site analysis is not possible, including container selection and preparation, cooling and freezing, filtration and centrifuging, chemical preservation where appropriate, and validation guidance references for storage times. It also identifies specific exclusions (for example, ecotoxicological assays, certain biological assays, passive sampling and microplastics) and points to related technical specifications for validation of storage times and specialised sampling methods.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard).
• Publication date: 2024 (issued March 2024; adopted by some national bodies in April 2024).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.060.45 (Examination of water in general).
• Edition / version: Edition 6 (2024).
• Number of pages: 66 pages (ISO published version).

Scope

Provides general requirements and guidance for sampling, preservation, handling, transport and storage of water samples for a wide range of analyses (physicochemical, chemical, hydrobiological, microbiological and radiochemical). It is intended primarily for situations where samples cannot be analysed on site and must be transferred to a laboratory. The document excludes methods intended specifically for ecotoxicological assays, certain biological assays, passive sampling and microplastics, and it references other parts of the ISO 5667 series and related documents for those specialised situations and for validation of storage times.

Key topics and requirements

• General principles for maintaining sample integrity from collection to analysis (chain of custody and documentation).
• Selection, cleaning and preparation of sampling containers appropriate to analyte groups (materials, pre‑treatment and labelling).
• Techniques for sample preservation: cooling, freezing, chemical preservatives and their correct application and limits.
• Recommended handling practices: filtration, centrifugation, headspace control for volatile analytes and methods to minimise contamination or alteration of analytes.
• Transport and storage requirements, including recommended temperature ranges, maximum validated holding times and conditions for different analyte classes (with reference to ISO/TS 5667‑25 for validation of storage times).
• Specific notes on limitations and exclusions (e.g., ecotoxicology, passive samplers, microplastics) and cross‑references to the appropriate parts of the 5667 series and related standards.

Typical use and users

Laboratories, field sampling teams, water utilities, environmental consultants, regulatory bodies and researchers who collect, transport or analyse water samples and must ensure sample integrity prior to analysis. The standard is particularly useful where samples are taken in the field and cannot be analysed immediately on site and therefore require validated preservation and transport procedures.

Related standards

This part is one element of the ISO 5667 series (water sampling). It cross‑references or complements other parts of ISO 5667 (for example parts covering sampling strategy and sample types) and related guidance documents such as ISO/TS 5667‑25 (validation of storage times), ISO 5667‑16, ISO 5667‑23 and ISO 5667‑27 for specialised sampling topics, and ISO 19458 for microbiological sampling protocols where applicable.

Keywords

Water sampling, sample preservation, sample handling, transport, storage, water quality, physicochemical analysis, biological analysis, radiochemical analysis, ISO 5667.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 5667‑3:2024 is an International Standard that provides guidance and requirements for the preservation and handling of water samples intended for laboratory analyses to ensure sample integrity between collection and analysis.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers container selection and preparation, preservation techniques (cooling, freezing, chemical preservatives), filtration and centrifugation where appropriate, transport and storage conditions, documentation and chain‑of‑custody considerations, and exclusions where other specialised parts of the 5667 series apply.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Environmental laboratories, field sampling personnel, water utilities, consultants and regulators who collect and analyse water samples or who must define validated procedures for preserving samples prior to analysis.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 5667‑3:2024 is the current edition published in 2024 and supersedes the previous edition ISO 5667‑3:2018. National adoption dates vary (for example some national bodies issued their identical/adopted versions in April 2024).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the ISO 5667 series on water quality sampling; other parts address sampling strategy, specific media or analyte groups and specialised techniques (see ISO 5667 series and associated technical specifications such as ISO/TS 5667‑25 for storage‑time validation).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Water sampling, preservation, handling, transport, storage, sample integrity, sample containers, holding time, cooling, chemical preservative, ISO 5667.