1. The ICP is operated on a first come, first serve basis. Anyone planning to run samples should e-mail Anita at afalen@uidaho.edu.
2. The ICP is operated only by appointed personnel. Nobody is allowed to operate the instrument or computer without permission. Please direct any questions to Anita Falen or Leslie Baker.
3. All samples and standard solutions MUST be free from solid particles. Samples containing any suspended solids should be filtered with a 0.2 m m or smaller membrane filter. Solids in the samples cause inaccurate readings and can clog the nebulizer, resulting in longer run time, expensive repairs, and replacements, which you will be held responsible for.
4. All samples should be labeled and in test tubes that are the correct size to fit in the auto-sampler (13 x 100 mm).
5. The standard solutions should be prepared by the user in the same matrix as the unknown samples. Prepare your standards carefully because it will affect the accuracy of your results. Also, if you give us an imprecise quality control, it will fail more often and cause the whole process to take longer, which will cost you more money.
6. The cost for using the ICP is $45.00/hour.  This includes a 30 minute warm-up period before any samples are run.  It also includes all the time the instrument is being standardized or run for your samples, whether or not you like the results. 

• A blank solution that represents the same liquid matrix of your samples.  Depending on how many samples you need to run, the amount of blank needed will vary.  Contact Anita or Leslie if you are unsure how much to prepare.
• A high and low standard—all elements that are being measured are to be included in one solution. The high standard should be higher than the concentration you expect your unknowns to be. If you expect your unknowns to have a concentration greater than 10 ppm, your high standard must be more concentrated. Minimum volume should be 100 ml.
• A Quality Control Standard—this solution is again all elements in one solution, but the concentration is somewhere between your high and low standards, preferably close to the expected concentration of your unknowns. If you have 100 or fewer samples, please provide us with 250ml of q.c. If you have more than 100 samples, please provide us with 500ml.
• All pertinent information on the hazardous nature of solutions.

    1.) Name, school, department, budget # and supervisor.  Due to previous problems, we are no longer able to schedule time or run any samples until you have provided a valid budget number and written permission from your supervisor to use that budget.

    2.) Number of samples and elements you wish to analyze.

    3.) Hazardous information on ALL samples (i.e. solvent, pH, radioactivity) and brief description on how you prepared you samples.

    4.) 1st and 2nd choice for time/day you wish to have the samples run.  Generally speaking we can run about 15 samples per hour.  This can vary though depending on how many elements you need run, so be sure there is enough time for ALL your samples.  Please DO NOT schedule any sample runs before 9:00 A.M., or to run after 6:00 P.M., or on the weekends.  

If you have any questions about making standard solutions, please ask Anita Falen or Leslie Baker.