Test interference

Whenever I get a water sample for a test, I try to stay away from the returns, and I always take the sample from as deep as I can go with my arm/hand... which got me thinking. Can residue or other stuff on my hand interfere with the test? For example, suppose I hold the sample bottle by the neck, dip it into the water, and turn it right side up. The water flowing into the sample container will be "filtering" through my hand/fingers. What if I had just eaten an orange or done a load of laundry? Will the residue somehow affect my testing? Am I being too paranoid?

What I do is wait for an approximate "turn-over' of the water before testing.

Other than that yeah, I think you're being too paranoid :)

Ok, thanks. I also usually test in the evening after a full day of circulation/filtering.

I also need to learn how to spell INTERFERENCE :-)

cygnusecks - I fixed your spelling for you. Now do you feel better? (it's the teacher in me!) ;)

I take the sample from about a foot down in front of the skimmer. If you have a chlorinator or salt chlorine generator or any other chemical thing the chemical levels at the returns can be off. Since I throw all chemicals in the skimmer there is a chance that some stuff can still be dissolving in the sand filter too.
Al