If one location shows 1.2 mg/cm2 and others below 1.0, classification?

If one location shows 1.2 mg/cm2 and others below 1.0, classification?

• A. Negative.
• B. Positive.
• C. Inconclusive.
• D. Not tested.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how results are classified against an action level. If any sampling location exceeds the action level, the overall result is considered positive for lead contamination. Here, one location shows 1.2 mg/cm2, which is above the 1.0 mg/cm2 threshold, while the others are below. That single elevated reading means the site is positive and requires follow-up actions to address the contamination. A negative result would require all locations to be below the threshold, which isn’t the case here. Inconclusive would apply when results are unusable or insufficient, not simply because one reading is higher. Not tested would apply if no samples were collected.

The key idea is how results are classified against an action level. If any sampling location exceeds the action level, the overall result is considered positive for lead contamination. Here, one location shows 1.2 mg/cm2, which is above the 1.0 mg/cm2 threshold, while the others are below. That single elevated reading means the site is positive and requires follow-up actions to address the contamination. A negative result would require all locations to be below the threshold, which isn’t the case here. Inconclusive would apply when results are unusable or insufficient, not simply because one reading is higher. Not tested would apply if no samples were collected.