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Analytical Services and Prices (FY 2020)

Analytical Services

  • The submitter should fill out either the Standard Submission Excel Form or the QWDATA Compatible Submission Excel Form (an individual file is needed for each type of analysis). The file should be e-mailed to isotopes@usgs.gov. Submitters should not change the format of a Submission Excel file because laboratory personnel may not be able to import it without modifying it. Modifying the format of Submission Excel files may result in an additional charge for time needed to correct the formatting.
    If users provide information on the QWDATA Compatible Submission Excel Form, the QWDATA files, Sample_d.dat and Result_d.dat, will be uploaded on the QW Data Transfer System (QWDX) with USGS procedure codes (List of RSIL lab codes, method codes, and procedure codes) and an Excel spreadsheet of the results and confirmation of successful upload to QWDX system will be e-mailed to the sample submitter.
  • Advanced Request for Analytical Services Form. Request and pay in advance for isotopic analyses of samples to be collected next fiscal year.
  • Submissions should be sent to:
    Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory (RSIL)
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Mail Stop 431, Room 5B142
    12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
    Reston, VA 20192
    +1 703-648-5950

    Except all samples for tritium analysis by electrolytic enrichment and liquid scintillation counting should be submitted to the Menlo Park Isotope Laboratory with either the Menlo Park Standard Submission Excel Form or the Menlo Park QWDATA Compatible Submission Excel Form (Instructions and Prices).
  • Please provide a prepared return shipping label if you ship your samples in a cooler. Otherwise, your cooler will not be returned to you.
  • General turnaround time for analysis is 2-4 weeks, but may be longer due to seasonal sample load. For information on express services, please email isotopes@usgs.gov. Priority service is available with advance notice. Turn-around time for priority service is 24 to 48 hours for hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios of water. The surcharge is an additional 50 percent. Please contact the laboratory to arrange.
  • Laboratory services are provided for USGS programs and personnel. However, laboratory services can be provided to other federal, state, and county agencies, but these analytical costs will be higher than those listed because other costs, such as USGS overhead, must be added. Please contact the Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory for prices.
  • The RSIL has a soil permit. Please contact the RSIL in advance of sending soil samples in order to obtain a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture entry label.
  • Please contact isotopes@usgs.gov or Lauren Reid (lreid@usgs.gov, 703-648-5950) with any sample submission questions.

Prices for Each Type of Analysis


Noble gas stable-isotope measurements by mass spectrometry
 
Samples Instructions SOP Lab Code Price (each)
Low-level tritium (hydrogen-3) in water by helium-3 ingrowth (0.1 TU) Instructions -- 600 $350
Helium-3/helium-4 (δ3He) in helium dissolved in water Instructions -- 610 $350
Noble gas suite (helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon) dissolved in water Instructions -- 620 $650

Tritium analysis by electrolytic enrichment and liquid scintillation counting (Menlo Park)
  Instructions and Prices
Use the Menlo Park Standard Submission Excel Form or the Menlo Park QWDATA Compatible Submission Excel Form

Both H-2/H-1 and O-18/O-16 isotope-ratio mass spectrometric analysis of water (samples > 3.5 mL)
  Instructions     Hydrogen-2 of water SOP     Oxygen-18 of water SOP
Number of Samples Lab Code Price (each)
1 - 3 1142 $89
4 - 19 1142 $69
20 - 39 1142 $59
40 + 1172 $49
Plus additional cost for samples < 3.5mL -- $30

Only H-2/H-1 isotope-ratio mass spectrometric analysis of water
  Instructions     SOP
Number of Samples Lab Code Price (each)
All 1574 Contact RSIL

Only O-18/O-16 isotope-ratio mass spectrometric analysis of water
 Instructions     SOP
Number of Samples Lab Code Price (each)
All 489 Contact RSIL

Both H-2/H-1 and O-18/O-16 isotope-ratio mass spectrometric analysis of pore water in sediments and plant material (toluene extraction method)
 Instructions      SOP
Number of Samples Lab Code Price (each)
1 - 5 1700 $265
6 + 1700 $195

N-15/N-14 and O-18/O-16 of NO3 in water (user must provide NO3 concentration accurate to within ±10 percent)
 Instructions     SOP
Number of Samples Lab Code Price (each)
1 - 5 2900 $224
6 - 20 2900 $149
21 + 2900 $128
Filter sample through 0.2 μM filter -- $10

N-15/N-14 of NH4 in water (user must provide NH4 concentration accurate to within ±20 percent)
 Instructions     SOP
Number of Samples Lab Code Price (each)
1 - 5 2898 $350
6 + 2898 $300

C-13/C-12 and O-18/O-16 of powdered calcite
 Instructions
Number of Samples Lab Code Price (each)
1 - 4 1135 $69
5 + 1135 $38
Powder sample if needed -- $20

C-13/C-12 of DIC (40 mL glass vial with butyl rubber septa provided by RSIL)
Number of Samples Lab Code Price (each)
1 - 5 1853 $68
6 - 19 1853 $58
20 + 1853 $48

O-18/O-16 of solids (AgNO3, NaNO3, KNO3, Ag2SO4, BaSO4, keratins, collagens, wood, plants, and other organic compounds). For O-18/O-16 of other materials, please contact RSIL.
Number of Samples Lab Code Price (each)
1 - 5 891 $89
6 - 19 891 $68
20 + 891 $50

O-18/O-16 of organic liquids
Number of Samples Lab Code Price (each)
All 892 $100

H-2/H-1 of solids (keratins, collagens, wood, plants, and other organic compounds)
Number of Samples Lab Code Price (each)
1 - 5 282 $89
6 - 19 282 $68
20 + 282 $50

H-2/H-1 of organic liquids
Number of Samples Lab Code Price (each)
All 283 $100

For H-2/H-1 in other materials that have exchangeable hydrogen, please contact RSIL

S-34/S-32 and O-18/O-16 analyses of sulfate in water
 
Samples Instructions SOP Lab Code Price (each)
Dissolved SO4 > 20 mg/L collected in 1 or 2 bottles Instructions SOP 2951 $201
Dissolved SO4 < 20 mg/L collected on anion exchange resin Instructions SOP 2949 $230

S-34/S-32 analyses of sulfate in water
 
Samples Instructions SOP Lab Code Price (each)
Dissolved SO4 > 20 mg/L collected in 1 or 2 bottles Instructions SOP 1951 $151
Dissolved SO4 < 20 mg/L collected on anion exchange resin Instructions SOP 1949 $180
Resin cartridge (shipping extra) -- -- -- $35

S-34/S-32 analyses of sulfur in powdered solids
 
Samples Instructions SOP Lab Code Price (each)
Powdered biological material, powdered sediments, and other powdered solids Instructions SOP 1800 $80
Dissolved sulfide as pure Ag2S Instructions -- 1948 $63
Dissolved sulfide as pure Ag2S with filtration Instructions -- 1948 $93
Sulfate in rock or sediment Instructions -- 1950 Contact RSIL
Powder solid sample if needed -- -- -- $20
Pure BaSO4 powder -- -- -- $55

C-13/C-12 and/or N-15/N-14 of powdered vertebrates
 
Samples Instructions SOP Lab Code Price (each)
C-13/C-12 and N-15/N-14 , C concentration, and N concentration Instructions -- 832 $48
C-13/C-12 and C concentration Instructions -- 896 $28
N-15/N-14 and N concentration Instructions -- 893 $28
Freeze dry sample if needed -- -- -- $10
Powder solid sample if needed -- -- -- $20

C-13/C-12; N-15/N-14 of powdered plants, powdered invertebrates, and powdered sediments
 
Samples Instructions SOP Lab Code Price (each)
C-13/C-12, N-15/N-14, C concentration, and N concentration (determined from replicate analyses) Instructions SOP 1832 $68
C-13/C-12 and C concentration Instructions -- 2896 $38
N-15/N-14 and N concentration Instructions SOP 2893 $38
Freeze dry sample if needed -- -- -- $10
Powder solid sample if needed -- -- -- $20
Removal of calcium carbonate by acidification if needed -- -- -- $25

CO2 sensor prep and calibration
Number of Samples Lab Code Price (each)
All 3201 $1000



 

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