General terms and conditions
Updated on 07/02/2025
Technical and commercial conditions applicable to orders
Sample packaging and storage
To ensure that analysis is carried out under the best possible conditions, certain measures must be taken when sampling and storing samples before they are sent to the laboratory.
- Samples must be taken from the substrate(s) specified by the laboratory,
- Samples should be stored at 4 ± 3°C, protected from light, and sent to the laboratory as soon as possible.
NB: vinyl chloride samples should be stored at -18°C, and metal samples should be stored at room temperature.
For bagged gas samples, there are no recommendations for storage temperature, but samples must arrive within 24 hours. For samples taken from metal ampoules, the pressure must be at least 5 bar.
Samples for which you wish to obtain accreditation (report containing the COFRAC logo; scope available on www.cofrac.fr), require the date and type of sampling to be indicated. The batch of media used must also have been validated by the laboratory beforehand, and must be indicated to us when the samples are returned. A field blank must be supplied for each series of samples. Analytical blanks are kept at the laboratory so that they can be passed on with your samples when they are returned for analysis.
For HP ENV and LAB REF 30 programs, please refer to general instruction IG 050 for full details of media management. This instruction will be automatically added to your package.
Technical and commercial proposal :
- The quotation has been drawn up on the basis of the information given to your contact person. It is a technical proposal, and only this quotation is valid in the event of a dispute concerning the laboratory’s possible accreditations, as well as the standards and tariffs applied. However, it is possible that unforeseen circumstances relating specifically to your samples may oblige us to modify the technical content of our offer once the samples have arrived. In this case, we undertake to provide you with all the information relating to this change in conditions.
- The analysis times noted on the quotation are indicative. However, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt shortly after your samples arrive, including a full contract review informing you of the expected date of delivery of the results from page 2 onwards.
- For urgent deadlines, please contact us in advance to establish a timetable for the arrival of your samples and the delivery of your results.
- In the event of equipment failure or a hardware problem delaying your analyses, please be aware that we undertake to inform you of any delay and will do our utmost to return the results as quickly as possible.
- All results will be sent by e-mail only, unless you specifically request otherwise.
- For COFRAC analyses, the report bearing the COFRAC logo can only be issued if we are accredited for the analyses requested (scope available on www.cofrac.fr). In accordance with COFRAC regulations, all services relating to our scope of accreditation must be rendered under accreditation. However, if you do not wish to be accredited, please submit a written request.
- For the analysis of a molecule without a standard or associated data sheet, we will not be able to validate the samples. In this case, we specify on the quotation that there is no standard for this analysis and that the proposed sampling media are not validated.
- For the supply of media, we make every effort to monitor and check the batches of media supplied. Each media manufactured in the laboratory is the object of particular attention, with the creation of a batch number and expiration date on each one. Please respect these dates, or let us know before sampling if you are unable to meet them.
Conditions of sale :
In the event of a request for the return of your coolers or other sampling equipment, the laboratory reserves the right to invoice shipping costs.
All requests for analysis or support must be accompanied by an order form containing an order number and the price of the total service. The laboratory reserves the right not to return results until the order has been received.
Payment due 30 days after receipt of invoice. Any delay in payment will incur penalties, invoiced at a rate of 1.5% per month in accordance with law N°92-1442 of December 31, 1992. Unless otherwise agreed.
The media are subject to a reservation of title clause until full payment has been received. A deposit or cash payment may be required when ordering analyses and/or sampling media.
In the case of equipment rental, QUAD-LAB reserves the right to ask for a deposit, and to invoice the cost of new or repair if the equipment is lost or damaged (e.g. loss of a 4L cooler: €50 excl. tax). If, however, the equipment cannot be returned to the laboratory on the day announced, we will invoice for the additional days according to the contract.
Quad-Lab reserves the right to apply a rush charge for delivery of media ordered on the day of shipment.
In the event of emergency analysis requests, Quad-Lab applies a surcharge based on the degree of urgency.
If a parcel is sent abroad, customs duties are payable by the customer.
The minimum invoice amount is €50 excluding VAT, and additional charges will be applied to reach this amount.
Data protection :
The laboratory undertakes to comply with applicable laws and regulations on data protection and to respect them in order to avoid any loss, destruction or alteration.
RGPD :
In the context of their contractual relationship, the parties undertake to comply with the regulations in force applicable to the processing of personal data and, in particular, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 applicable from 25 May 2018 (hereinafter, “the European Data Protection Regulation”).
The data and how it is processed are set out in Quad-Lab’s data protection charter, available at https://www.quad-lab.fr/laboratoire-analyses-chimiques/laboratoire-analyses-chimiques-charte-rgpd-2/. Please note that your data may be seen by auditors during assessments of our laboratory, under confidentiality contract.
Impartiality and independence
The parties guarantee that they have no direct or indirect interest that could compromise their independence and objectivity in the performance of the services. The parties undertake not to exert any pressure on each other, whatever its nature (financial, commercial, service proposal, etc.), which might compromise their impartiality when carrying out the services. The customer must not misuse the COFRAC mark Cf. COFRAC regulations: GEN REF 11. If a breach of this requirement is detected, the laboratory is obliged to inform COFRAC.
Claims
Quad-Lab undertakes to deal with all claims made in writing, in accordance with the claims process available at www.quad-lab.fr.