Division of Environmental Health Drinking Water Program

Shipping Blank Submission Guide

Excel Reporting

This page outlines how to report Shipping Blanks (also known as travel, trip, or field blanks) as required for VOC, TTHM, or PFAS detected samples. Shipping blanks are not required to be submitted with non-detected samples but can be voluntarily reported. This guidance is separated into three sections to match the sections in CMDP: general Sample Information, Chem/Rad Results, and Field Results and Measurements (this section is not used for Shipping Blank reporting). Additionally, this document includes examples of completed sample submissions.

This guidance page notes the state/federally required fields within each section. Submit the information as described to help ensure a successful sample submission. Do not rely on the symbols noted in the template as they do not include the state required fields.

If you have questions, please contact DEC CMDP support staff at dec.cmdpsupport@alaska.gov.

Section 1: Sample Information

• Reporting Lab. ID*: Lab Identification number.
• Sample ID*: Lab sample identification number, limit to 20 characters (numbers, letters, dash/underscore are allowed). 
• Sample Received Date*: Date shipping blank was received by lab (MM/DD/YY).
• WS ID*: Public Water System identification number (PWSID). NOTE: Each water system name has a unique PWSID number. If the name and number on the work order does not match what is listed in CMDP, investigate to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Facility ID*: Facility identification number where sample was collected. 
• Sampling Point ID*: Sample Point identification number related to the facility where the sample was collected. NOTE: If one shipping blank was used for multiple samples (VOC, PFAS, or TTHM), assign the shipping blank result to the same Facility ID and Sampling Point ID where the detected sample was collected.
• Sampling Location*: Enter the Shipping Blank into this field.
• Collection Date*: Use the same date as the VOC/TTHM/PFAS detected sample collected (MM/DD/YY).
• Collection Time (24H)*: Use the same time as the VOC/TTHM/PFAS detected sample collected (HH:MM).
• Sample Type*: From the drop-down menu, select the Shipping Blank sample type.
• Sample Volume: Not Required.
• Repeat Location: Not applicable for this sample type.
• Original Sample ID: Not applicable for this sample type.
• Original Reporting Lab. ID: Not applicable for this sample type.
• Original Collection Date: Not applicable for this sample type.
• Comment: Not required, however if comments are provided, please limit characters to numbers, letters, dash or underscore. In particular, do NOT include quotation marks. Please indicate if one shipping blank should count for multiple contaminants.
• Sample Collector Name: Name of sample collector, report if information is provided.

Section 2: Chem/Rad Results

• Analyte [Code-Name]*: From the drop-down menu, select the analytes you are submitting results for as appropriate. NOTE: This list will NOT filter by the analytes your lab (or lab that you have subcontracted with) is certified for so be sure to verify the certification information (outside of CMDP) prior to data submission.
• Not Detected*: From the drop down menu, select whether the contaminant was Not Detected (select Yes) or Detected (select No) in the analyzed sample. 
• Result**: Enter the appropriate reported result of the shipping blank only if reporting a detect.
• Result UOM**: From the drop-down menu, select the unit of measure for the sample result as appropriate.
• Standard Deviation (+/-): Not required but report if applicable.
• Reporting Limit**: Enter the appropriate reporting limit of the shipping blank analytes.
• Reporting Limit UOM**: From the drop-down menu, select the unit of measure for the reporting limit as appropriate.
• Volume Assayed: Not required but report if applicable (numerical value only). 
• Method*: Select the appropriate method based on how analyzed as listed below  
  • Method 524.2 (VOC/TTHM) from drop-down select 524.2 - VOC, GC/MS, P&T, CAPCOLUMN 
  • Method EPA 533 (PFAS) from drop-down select EPA 533 – EPA 533 
  • Method EPA 537.1 Version 2 (PFAS) from drop-down select EPA 537.1 – EPA 537.1 
• Analysis Start Date*: Date when lab began analysis (MM/DD/YY).
• Analysis Start Time*: Time when lab began analysis (HH:MM).
• Analysis Completed Date: Not required but report if information is available (MM/DD/YY).
• Analysis Completed Time: Not required but report if information is available (HH:MM).
• Analyst Name: Not required.
• Analyzing Lab ID**: If the shipping blank was subcontracted to a different lab for analysis, the analyzing lab identification number is required to be reported here.
• Comment: Not required, however if comments are provided, please limit characters to numbers, letters, dash or underscore. In particular, do NOT include quotation marks

Section 3: Field Results and Measurements

REMINDER! This section should NOT be used for shipping blank submittals. Please leave fields blank.

Section 4: Examples

Excel Examples Document - This document includes several examples as follows

• Tab 1- Shipping Blank Non-Detect
• Tab 2- Shipping Blank Detect