Sample Submission & Chain of Custody Terms

These Sample Submission & Chain of Custody Terms govern all Samples submitted to Bear Skin LLC, doing business as Altitude Consulting LLC (“Lab”), for testing, handling, storage, subcontracting, reporting, or disposal.

These terms are incorporated into the Lab’s Terms & Conditions.

1. Client Certification

By submitting Samples to the Lab, Client certifies that:

• Client is authorized to possess and submit the Samples
• submission of the Samples does not violate applicable law
• Samples are accurately identified and described
• all required information has been provided
• Samples are packaged, labeled, and shipped lawfully and safely
• Client has disclosed any known hazards, restrictions, or unusual characteristics
• Client has selected the appropriate tests or requested assistance before submission

The Lab may rely on Client’s certifications and submitted information.

2. Lawful Possession and Shipment

Client is solely responsible for determining whether each Sample may lawfully be possessed, transported, shipped, delivered, tested, returned, stored, or disposed of.

Client is responsible for compliance with:

• federal law
• state law
• local law
• tribal law, if applicable
• carrier rules
• hazardous materials rules
• controlled-substance rules
• hemp, cannabis, kratom, mushroom, botanical, dietary supplement, food, cosmetic, or other product-specific laws
• license, permit, or registration requirements

Acceptance of a Sample by the Lab does not mean the Lab has verified the legality of the Sample or the shipment.

3. Sample Identification

Each Sample must be clearly labeled and matched to the corresponding Order, chain-of-custody form, or online submission.

Client must provide accurate information, including as applicable:

• Client name
• product or Sample name
• lot or batch number
• matrix
• test requested
• intended units
• known concentration range, if relevant
• ingredients or excipients, if relevant
• hazards or handling precautions
• storage requirements
• any known interferences or unusual characteristics

The Lab is not responsible for errors caused by incorrect, incomplete, missing, illegible, or conflicting information.

4. Sample Condition

The Lab may reject, quarantine, hold, dispose of, return, or refuse to test Samples that are:

• leaking
• damaged
• unlabeled
• mislabeled
• insufficient in quantity
• decomposed
• moldy
• unstable
• unsafe
• contaminated
• improperly packaged
• inconsistent with the Order
• suspected to be unlawful
• outside the Lab’s testing scope
• unsuitable for the requested method

If the Lab attempts analysis on an unsuitable or compromised Sample, Client acknowledges that results may be limited, qualified, delayed, or unavailable.

5. Sample Quantity

Client is responsible for submitting sufficient Sample quantity for all requested testing, repeat analysis, quality-control requirements, and retention, if applicable.

If insufficient Sample is submitted, the Lab may:

• reject the Order
• perform only selected tests
• request additional material
• issue a qualified Report
• proceed without retest capacity
• charge additional fees for handling or reprocessing

6. Homogeneity and Representativeness

Unless the Lab has expressly agreed in writing to perform sampling, homogenization validation, or a statistically valid sampling plan, the Lab does not certify that any Sample is representative of a batch, lot, product line, inventory, shipment, harvest, production run, or finished product population.

Results apply only to the Sample portion received and tested.

Client is responsible for ensuring that the submitted Sample is representative of the material Client intends the results to describe.

7. Chain of Custody

Client must provide complete and accurate chain-of-custody information when requested or required.

The Lab may document Sample receipt, condition, custody transfer, storage, preparation, testing, subcontracting, disposal, and reporting according to its internal procedures.

A chain-of-custody record documents the handling of the Sample received by the Lab. It does not certify the Sample’s history before receipt unless expressly stated.

8. Storage Conditions

Client must identify any required storage conditions before or at the time of submission.

The Lab will use reasonable efforts to store Samples according to its standard procedures or disclosed requirements, but the Lab is not responsible for degradation, instability, evaporation, microbial growth, oxidation, analyte loss, or other changes unless caused by the Lab’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Some Samples may naturally change over time. Testing reflects the condition of the Sample at the time of analysis.

9. Retention and Disposal

Unless otherwise required by law, accreditation, contract, or Lab policy, residual Samples may be retained for thirty (30) days after Report issuance and then destroyed or disposed of.

The Lab may dispose of Samples sooner if they are hazardous, unstable, leaking, spoiled, unlawful, contaminated, odorous, unsafe, or impractical to retain.

Client authorizes the Lab to dispose of residual Samples according to Lab policy and applicable law.

10. Return of Samples

Samples are not returned unless the Lab agrees in writing before submission or return is required by law.

The Lab may refuse to return Samples that are hazardous, unlawful, unstable, contaminated, consumed during testing, insufficient in remaining quantity, or impractical to ship.

If Samples are returned, Client is responsible for all shipping, packaging, legal compliance, carrier requirements, permits, and related costs.

11. Retesting and Reanalysis

Requests for retesting or reanalysis must be submitted within fourteen (14) days after Report issuance.

Retesting may be unavailable if:

• insufficient residual Sample remains
• the Sample has degraded
• the retention period has expired
• the Sample was consumed during analysis
• chain-of-custody requirements cannot be met
• reanalysis is not scientifically appropriate
• payment is outstanding

Retesting may be subject to additional fees unless the Lab determines that retesting is necessary due to Lab error.

12. Subcontracted Testing

Client authorizes the Lab to transfer Samples, aliquots, extracts, or related information to subcontract laboratories when needed to complete requested Services.

Subcontracted Samples may be subject to the subcontract laboratory’s handling, retention, reporting, and disposal practices.

13. Safety and Hazard Disclosure

Client must disclose any known or suspected hazards, including but not limited to:

• solvents
• acids or bases
• pesticides
• microbial contamination
• toxic compounds
• pressurized containers
• volatile materials
• unknown powders or extracts
• controlled or restricted materials
• infectious or biohazardous materials
• unusually high-potency materials

Client is liable for damages, injuries, contamination, cleanup costs, regulatory consequences, or other losses caused by failure to disclose hazards.

14. Conflicting Information

If the online Order, physical label, chain-of-custody form, email instructions, invoice, or other documentation conflict, the Lab may pause testing until the conflict is resolved.

The Lab may rely on the information it reasonably determines to be most current or authoritative.

15. Fees for Handling or Rejection

The Lab may charge fees for intake, handling, storage, attempted analysis, disposal, subcontract cancellation, administrative review, or return shipping, even if a Sample is rejected or testing cannot be completed.