SAMPLING

Sampling represents according to the author the main step of the analy tical process. To obtain a rapid, reproducible and reliable analytical information it is necessary to possess a good knowledge about the his tory and the homogeneity of the sample. Sample acts as a glue between method and instrument. Only knowing the sampling process, one can esta blish the moral ageing of analytical process. Nowadays, the main atten tion is given to the hyphenated techniques which represent a connectio n between sampling and analysis. Hyphenated techniques explained step by step the full analytical process. Sampling must ensure the improvem ent of the signal/noise ratio. Finally the influence of the sampling p rocess on the reliability of the analytical information is discussed; one can conclude that ''No analysis is better than the sample itself'' .