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The fifth part of a series discusses various aspects of sampling. This paper addresses a new error -- the tenth specific and distinct error that may affect samples. It is called the data error. The ten sampling errors are categorized into four major categories. Terminology describing these ten errors has been modified for clarification and better understanding and to reflect common usage. The four categories of sampling errors and their respective specific errors are: 1. material errors, 2. process errors, 3. sampling errors, and 4. laboratory errors. The new sampling error to be discussed is generally termed "data error." Data error is a new and distinct error to be identified among sampling errors. This error was previously included in other errors originally identified by Gy. However, the sources of this error are separate and distinct from other errors in sampling. Corrective and preventive actions to prevent data errors are unique and separate from those addressing other sampling errors.
