Sample Submission

Current sample submission turn around is 5-7 business days for standard analyses, 3-6 months for larger work orders. Call for better estimates: 801-422-2147. Thanks! -EAL Management, 4/29/24

Sample Submission Procedure

1. Collect soil, plant, water, etc. for analysis.
2. Print out a Sample Submission Form
3. Fill out your Sample Submission Form and deliver it, with your samples, to the lab via:

Mail
Environmental Analytical Lab - 4105 LSB 
701 E University Parkway 
Brigham Young University 
Provo, UT 84602

Walk In
Enter the east loading dock of the Life Sciences Building on BYU Campus (approximately 850 N 580 E Provo, UT 84606)
Put the samples in the drop box and call the lab at (801) 422-2147, and we will come to pick up your samples.

Drop Box
Located at the Life Sciences Building loading dock (approximately 850 N 580 E, Provo, UT 84606) If you have additional questions about submitting your sample, visit our FAQ page or call us at (801) 422-2147.

Additional Resources: Instructions for Homeowners

Homeowner's Guide to Submitting Soil Samples for Analysis

by Bryan G. Hopkins, Soil Scientist
PDF Download: Soil Sampling Instructions for Homeowners

Choose Unique Sampling Areas

Combining soil from different areas of your property can invalidate your soil analysis. In other words, when submitting soil for analysis, DO NOT combine soil from your garden with soil from your lawn. Common areas to sample include your: front lawn, back lawn, vegetable garden, orchard, and flower beds. Any areas that have received the same fertilizer application over the past two years, have the same vegetation, and have the same type of soil may be combined into one sample. However, be sure to keep problem areas separated from the rest of your soil for diagnostic purposes.

Determine Budget Constraints

Each unique area that is sampled will typically cost ~$30 plus shipping to analyze. Prioritize areas that are most problematic in order to fit within your unique budget constraints.

Obtain Proper Sampling Equipment

Visit your local garden center to obtain sample bags and a soil probe. Clean cloth bags are best for soil because they allow the soil to "breathe", but paper bags will work if the soil is not wet. Plastic bags are acceptable if the samples will arrive to the lab within 24 hours and will be kept cool. We have cloth bags available for you to use. Contact us if you need a bag for your sample.

Collect Soil Cores

For each unique sampling area, collect 8 to 20 soil cores by moving in a zig-zag through the area and retrieving soil cores at random. Depending on the type of soil in the area you are sampling, you should insert the soil probe at different depths according to the following table:

Generally, it is easier to sample soil when the soil is moist, and has been compacted. We recommend stepping on each spot where you will be inserting the soil probe before sampling. Additionally, you may disregard living or dead vegetation when sampling.

Mix the Soil

Using clean hands or clean gloves, mix the soil in your sample bucket. DO NOT use objects with fertilizer dust on them (gloves, spades, etc.), nor objects made of rubber or non-stainless steel metal to mix the soil.

Mark the Soil Sample Bag

Write your name, address, unique sample ID, and average sample depth for the area the soil came from on each sample bag. The unique sample ID should be some way for you to identify where each distinct bag of soil came from. For example, you may want to a bag with soil from the front yard as "FRONT YARD", and a bag with soil from the back yard "BACK YARD". This helps you and us remember which soil corresponds to which results upon completion of the analysis and allows you to respond accordingly.

Transfer Soil

Transfer about 2 cups of soil from your bucket into the sample bag, and seal the bag shut using strings, zip ties, or tape.

Deliver Soil

Send your soil samples to the BYU Environmental Analytical Lab as soon as possible. If you need to store the soil before submission to the lab, keep it cool (preferably frozen), and avoid allowing the soil to be exposed to long periods of heat. Additionally, DO NOT allow your soil samples to come into contact with anything that could contaminate the soil (fertilizer dust, solid contaminants, liquid contaminants) while in storage.