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Agricultural Service Laboratory

Guidelines for Submitting Samples

Where To Submit Your Samples

Use appropriate containers for submitting samples. County offices and other companies may order lab supplies directly from the lab. All other individuals may visit the local county Extension offices or the lab for needed supplies.

Locals to Clemson

You may drop samples, forms, and payment in our dropbox at the lab loading dock. Please drop off only during business hours. Payment can be made by cash, credit card, or check.

Non-Locals

Option 1) Ship samples directly to us at the following address and include a completed form (ex: Soil Sample Form) and payment by check made to Clemson University or pay by credit card. We accept UPS, FedEx, and USPS shipments daily.

Ship to: 171 Old Cherry Rd. Clemson, SC 29634

Option 2) Contact your local County Cooperative Extension Office for assistance.

Option 3) For one soil sample, order a soil sample mailer kit online, which includes instructions, soil sample bag, and postage-paid shipping envelope.

For questions concerning the interpretation of results contact the Home and Garden Information Center.  Phone: 1-888-656-9988

How To Submit Samples To Lab

Soil Samples

Individual soil bags must be filled to the "fill to line-do not fill above line" with soil. Label the bag with the sample number, name and address information, and crop to be grown. Make sure the sample label on the bag matches the form. On the form, be sure to include the account number, soil code, crop codes, and desired analyses. Up to 8 sample IDs may be listed on one page of the soil form. Fill shipping box completely with packing material and samples so the bags will not move around during shipping. Double-check and make sure the forms in the shipping box match the samples. If you are an individual sending the sample directly to the lab, be sure to include account number (if you have an established account), check made out to Clemson University, or the order number from your online credit card payment.

Get more information for soil sampling.

Soil Sample Mailer

This soil sample mailer will allow you to mail a sample of your home lawn and/or garden soil directly to the lab from your home mailbox or local post office.

Within 10 days of receiving your soil at the lab, you will receive in return a report including your results with lime and fertility recommendations for your home lawn and/or garden.

The cost of the mailer is $25.00 and includes a soil sample bag, information and instruction form, and a postage paid mailing envelope. The fee for one standard soil test is included in this cost.
To order by credit card click here.
To order by check click here for a mailer order form.

The mailer is provided for your convenience in shipping and handling. However, if submitting more than one sample, we do not recommend purchasing multiple mailers. Likely, it will be more cost-effective to ship multiple samples via USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Place each soil sample in a plastic bag, print and complete the Soil Analysis form, and submit with a check or money order made payable to Clemson University. The cost of each standard soil analysis is $6.00. Should you wish to request an additional test, please see the tests we offer and the fee schedule. Please view instructions on how to complete the form if you have any questions. Alternatively, you can drop samples and payment at a County Cooperative Extension Office to be delivered to the lab at no additional charge.

Feed and Forage Samples

Submit about a quart of sample in a plastic bag. For forage samples, use paper bags or envelopes for storing and mailing. Make sure the information on the form matches the bag. Be sure to include account, animal type, feed type, and analyses desired on the form. If you are an individual sending the sample directly to the lab, be sure to include account number, credit card order confirmation number or a check made out to Clemson University.

Get more information for feed and forage sampling.

Pet Food

Submit 1-2 large treats, 3-4 small treats, or 1 cup of wet or dry (kibble) food in a plastic bag. If the food is wet, double-bag it to ensure no leakage occurs during shipment. Please do not send raw meat as we cannot accept it. Label the bag and make sure the information on the form matches with the sample bag. 5 sample IDs may be listed on one page of the Pet Food analysis form. Be sure to include account, animal to be fed, and desired analyses on the form. If you are an individual sending the sample directly to the lab, be sure to include account number, credit card order confirmation number or a check made out to Clemson University.

Get more information for pet food sampling.

Plant Tissue Sample for Nutrient Analysis

Submit clean undamaged leaf tissue in a paper bag. Submit at least a half a lunch bag full of tissue. (Submit at least 25 large petioles or 50 small petioles for NO3-N analysis). Label the bag and make sure the informatin on the form matches with the sample. 15 sample IDs may be listed on one page of the plant form. Be sure to include account, crop code, and desired analyses on the form. If you are an individual sending the sample directly to the lab, be sure to include account number, credit card order confirmation number or a check made out to Clemson University.

Get more information for plant sampling.

Irrigation Water Samples

Submit about a pint of water in a plastic bottle. Plastic water bottles work best for this. Fill bottle completely. Make sure the information on the form matches with the sample. Be sure to include account and analyses desired on the form. If you are an individual sending the sample directly to the lab, be sure to include account number, credit card order confirmation number or a check made out to Clemson University.

Get more information for water sampling.

Animal Waste Samples

Bags and bottles are available for use for solid and liquid waste samples at your local County Extension office. Our lab bags must be used for submitting solid samples to the lab. Do not use any other bags for submitting solid waste samples. About a cup of liquid is required for liquid samples. Make sure the information on the form matches with the sample. Be sure to include account, manure type, storage, and analyses desired on the form. If you are an individual sending the sample directly to the lab, be sure in include account number, credit card order confirmation number or a check made out to Clemson University.

Get more information for animal waste sampling.

Nematode Samples and Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic Samples

Visit The Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic

Submit all Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic and Nematode samples to this address:
Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic & Nematode Assay Laboratory
511 Westinghouse Road
Pendleton, SC 29670

How To Complete Forms

Completely fill in all requested information at the top of the page.

  1. Account: This seven block space is for your account code. The county Extension office collecting the fees for samples must enter the account code for that county office. Researchers should enter their personal computer user ID. Other accounts should enter their seven-digit account number. This is a mandatory fill field if you have an account. If you're including payment with the sample sent directly to the lab leave this space blank.
  2. If you have a personal account, you will receive an email notification when your reports are ready.
  3. Copy to Email: If you would like someone else to be able to access the report on the web, enter his or her email address in the 30-block field. If you submit your sample through the county office and include your personal email address here, the county will have web access to your report.
  4. Sample ID: Enter your sample identification number/label in the blocks provided. Make sure that the sample ID on the sample bag or bottle matches the sample ID on the form for every sample submitted.

If using the form for:

  1. Animal Waste: Check type of manure and storage. Fill out one form per sample.
  2. Compost: Check type of compost and intended use. Fill out one form per sample.
  3. Feed & Forage: Check animals to be fed and type of feed. Fill out one form per sample.
  4. Irrigation Water: Check intended water use. Fill out one form per sample.
  5. Plant Tissue: Enter crop codes. One form can be used for 15 samples.
  6. Soil: Enter soil and crop codes. One form can be used for 8 samples.
  7. Pet Food: Check animal to be fed. One form can be used for 5 samples.

Analyses: Check the appropriate box(es) for the analyses desired. Write in the fee for that sample. (The fees will be carried out automatically if using the computer to enter information.)

Total Amount Due: Add up the total amount due at the bottom of the sheet. (The fees will be added automatically if using the computer.) If paying by check enter your check number. Make checks payable to Clemson University.

Deliver samples, completed record sheets, and payment to the lab or your county Extension Agent's office for shipment to the lab. Completed forms must accompany samples to the lab.

Hard Copies of Reports: If you do not have a personal account or have not included an email address in the copy to email space you will receive a hard copy from the lab. The county office is responsible for sending all additional copies if requested.

The form can be filled out with the computer or you can print off as many blank copies as you need to fill out by hand.

How to Complete a Soil Form

Completely fill in all requested information at the top of the form.

  1. Client Information: Please complete all sections of the client info including your name, company name if applicable, physical address, phone number, and email address.
  2. Account: Leave this field blank if you are including payment with the sample sent directly to the lab. The account section only applies if you have an existing account with the lab or if your sample is shipped to the lab from a County Cooperative Extension Office. The Extension Office collecting the fees for samples must enter the account code for that county. Researchers should enter their personal computer user ID. Other accounts should enter their seven-digit account number. This is a mandatory field if you have an account.

Fill in the requested information in the sample section of the form.

  1. Lab Number: Leave this section BLANK. It is for lab use only.
  2. Grower Sample ID: Assign unique labels for each of your samples.
  3. Soil Code: Follow here for a map & descriptions to determine your 1-digit soil code. Most likely, this code will be the same if all soil samples are from the same area within SC.
  4. Crop Code: Follow here for the crop code list to determine your crop code(s). Write in the 3-digit code corresponding to each soil sample, up to 4 codes per sample.
  5. Crops to be Grown: Write out the crops you are growing for each soil sample. Homeowners, if you have a lawn sample,
    specify the type of grass.
  6. Standard and Other Tests: Check the appropriate box(es) for the desired analyses. The Standard test is the most commonly selected. Other Tests are described in the box at the top of the form.
  7. Fee: Write in the fee for each sample using the fee list in the box at the top of the form. Standard test is $6 per sample.

Fill in the requested information in the bottom section of the form.

  1. Mailed Report: Select this option only if you want a hardcopy mailed to you instead of or in addition to an emailed report.
    There is a $3 fee per order for a hardcopy. A hard copy will be mailed from the lab only if you pay the print and postage fee.
  2. Page Total ($): Add up the total amount in fees due at the bottom of the sheet.
  3. Check Number: If paying by check enter your check number. Make checks payable to Clemson University.
  4. Grand Total ($) of all pages: Leave this field blank if you only have one page of samples. If you have multiple pages of samples, fill in the grand total for all fees on the front page.
  5. Extension Approval, Ag Lab Approval, Receipt Number, Cty Rec #, and Date Received: Leave all of these fields blank at  the bottom of the sheet. These fields are for Extension and Lab staff use only.

How to Complete a Pet Food Form

  1. Complete the customer information at the top of the form, including the email address.
  2. Select the animals to be fed.
  3. Type or write in an eight-character Sample ID.
  4. Use the same Sample ID on your submission bag. This ID will tie the sample results back to the sample you submitted.
  5. Select the desired analyses.
  6. Calculate the fee total.
  7. Print the form and include it with the package that contains your sample(s) and payment.

How to Complete the Research Form

Please complete the form located on the research page.