For OSHA personal samples, identify the method described as appropriate.

• A. AAS Method
• B. ISO Method
• C. OSHA Reference Method
• D. HPLC Method

Answer: (C)

For OSHA personal samples, the appropriate method is the OSHA Reference Method. This is the official protocol OSHA assigns for collecting and analyzing workplace air samples to determine compliance with permissible exposure limits. It specifies how samples are collected on the worker’s media (such as filters or sorbent tubes), how they’re stored and transported, and how the laboratory analysis is conducted, including the required instrumentation, calibration, and QA/QC procedures. This standardization ensures data quality and comparability across labs, which is essential for regulatory decisions. Other methods like AAS, ISO, or HPLC describe specific techniques or standards, but they aren’t the designated OSHA reference method for regulatory-use personal samples.