What is the required size range for a wipe sample?

What is the required size range for a wipe sample?

• A. At least 0.1 ft² and no more than 2 ft²
• B. 0.5 ft² to 3 ft²
• C. 0.01 ft² to 1 ft²
• D. 1 ft² to 4 ft²

Answer: (A)

Wipe sampling uses a defined surface area so results can be expressed as lead per area (µg per ft²). The area must be large enough to collect detectable dust but not so large that dust distribution becomes nonuniform or the wipe is overload. The required range is 0.1 ft² to 2 ft². Areas smaller than 0.1 ft² may not yield enough lead for reliable detection, leading to nondetects or highly variable results. Areas larger than 2 ft² can produce inconsistent results due to uneven dust distribution and practical handling during analysis. This range ensures samples are representative and lab-ready, translating to meaningful clearance measurements.

Wipe sampling uses a defined surface area so results can be expressed as lead per area (µg per ft²). The area must be large enough to collect detectable dust but not so large that dust distribution becomes nonuniform or the wipe is overload. The required range is 0.1 ft² to 2 ft². Areas smaller than 0.1 ft² may not yield enough lead for reliable detection, leading to nondetects or highly variable results. Areas larger than 2 ft² can produce inconsistent results due to uneven dust distribution and practical handling during analysis. This range ensures samples are representative and lab-ready, translating to meaningful clearance measurements.