Samples taken in a series of steps with the sampling portions constituting the sample (units or increments) at each step being selected from the larger or greater number of portions of the previous step, or from a primary or
composite sample. The first set of portions (units or increments) taken from the population available for sampling is the
primary sample. The subsequent samples (secondary, tertiary, etc.) are the sets of subsamples, units, items, individuals or increments taken from the preceding step. The units may be different steps of multistage sampling (e.g. pallets, cases, packages).
Source:
PAC, 1990, 62, 1193
(Nomenclature for sampling in analytical chemistry (Recommendations 1990))
on page 1203
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997). XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
doi:10.1351/goldbook.
