What should be done if a sample is taken incorrectly?

If a sample is taken incorrectly, the best course of action is to discard the sample. This is crucial because the integrity and accuracy of any testing or analysis depend on the quality of the sample collected. An incorrect sample could lead to misleading results, which can have significant implications, especially in regulatory or safety-related contexts.

Discarding the flawed sample ensures that subsequent actions are based on reliable data. Taking a new sample is essential, and it should be collected following the proper procedures to ensure that it reflects the true conditions or parameters being assessed. This helps maintain the validity of any testing procedures and safeguards against potential errors that might arise from using compromised samples.

While other actions such as documenting the error, notifying a supervisor, or retaking the sample are important in certain contexts, they do not directly address the immediate need to ensure that the sample used for analysis is valid and reliable. Thus, discarding an incorrect sample and ensuring the collection of a proper one is fundamental in maintaining the quality and accuracy of the sampling process.