If inconclusive dust wipe results are encountered, what is the standard next step?

If inconclusive dust wipe results are encountered, what is the standard next step?

• A. Have the laboratory confirm the inconclusives
• B. Discard the samples
• C. Assume all are positive
• D. Ignore the inconclusives

Answer: (A)

When a dust wipe test result is inconclusive, you need a definitive answer before deciding next steps. The standard action is to have the laboratory confirm or reanalyze the inconclusive result, which may involve re-running the analysis on the same sample (or a split sample) or collecting a new wipe if needed. This ensures you can reliably determine whether the surface meets the lead dust clearance criteria. Ignoring the inconclusive result, discarding the samples, or assuming all are positive would risk missing hazards or triggering unnecessary work.

When a dust wipe test result is inconclusive, you need a definitive answer before deciding next steps. The standard action is to have the laboratory confirm or reanalyze the inconclusive result, which may involve re-running the analysis on the same sample (or a split sample) or collecting a new wipe if needed. This ensures you can reliably determine whether the surface meets the lead dust clearance criteria. Ignoring the inconclusive result, discarding the samples, or assuming all are positive would risk missing hazards or triggering unnecessary work.