What is a sampling strategy?

• A. A plan for lab accreditation
• B. A schedule for annual audits
• C. A plan for what to sample, where to sample, how to sample, and how the results answer the health or compliance question
• D. A plan for what to sample only

Answer: (C)

A sampling strategy is the overall plan that defines how data will be collected so you can answer a health or regulatory question. It covers what will be sampled, where samples will come from, how to collect and analyze them (methods, frequency, preservation, QA/QC, chain of custody), and how the results will be interpreted to determine compliance or health risk. In water surveillance, this ensures the data are representative of the system, capable of detecting issues, and aligned with regulatory requirements. Options that focus only on accreditation, audits, or merely what to sample miss the essential connections to where, how, and how the results will inform decisions, so they don’t provide the full, usable plan.