One of the least glamorous and most useful things we do is hold a sealed counter-sample on every shipment for 180 days. Here is what it is and why it is unusual.
What it is
When we assay an outbound lot, we split the prepared sample into three: one for our analyst, one for the customer if they want it, and one sealed in a labelled, signed envelope and locked in a safe in the lab. That third sample sits there for 180 days from shipment date.
What it’s for
If the customer’s receiving assay disagrees materially with our outbound assay, we both have the option of sending the sealed counter-sample to an agreed third-party umpire lab. The umpire result is binding. In practice this is rarely needed — but the existence of the policy changes everyone’s behaviour.
Why it’s unusual
Many suppliers will pull a counter-sample on request. Very few do it as a default policy on every shipment, document it, sign the envelope and timestamp the safe-in. Our cost to do this is small; the trust dividend is large.
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