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Ultimate BOD Resource
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The answers to these questions reflect the most current knowledge regarding BOD testing. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact one of our
key contacts.
General BOD Questions
----Choose a General BOD question from this list ---
Temperature: Do I need to record the temperature of my lab?
Bottles: Can I use the new disposable (“plastic”) BOD bottles?
Hold Time: What is the holding time for BOD? 24 hrs or 48 hrs??
Method: Can I use a luminesce DO probe (LDO) or some other "electro-optical" probe?
Questions about Sample Pre-Treatment
----Choose a Sample Pre-Treatment question from this list ---
pH: How should the pH of samples for BOD testing be checked?
pH: Why do I have to adjust pH?
Saturation: Is supersaturation always at 9.00 mg/L DO?
Specific Method-Related Questions about BOD
----Choose a BOD Method question from this list ---
Incubation: How is the 5-day “incubation” period defined?
Incubation: How are weekend incubator temperatures verifed?
Dilutions: Can I throw out a dilution if it doesn’t agree with others?
Dilutions: What if only one dilution met depletion criteria?
Reporting: What do I report if all dilutions over-deplete?
Seed: Do I need more seed if a 300 mL sample under-depletes?
Seed: We don't use chlorine...so do I have to seed?
Method: Can I use a luminesce DO probe (LDO) or some other "electro-optical" probe?
BOD Quality Control (QC) Questions
----Choose a BOD QC question from this list ---
GGA: If my GGA fails, what do I have to do?
GGA: My GGA fails low, what's the problem?
GGA: My GGA fails high, what's the problem?
GGA: Why can't I average GGA results?
Blanks: Help! My blanks actually GAIN oxygen!
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