A theoretical investigation is presented for the analytical errors resulting from the sedimentation process in slurry samples which are not continuously mixed or agitated. The results presented in this paper are designed to cover practical ranges of particle radii, particle densities, densities of the media, and the viscosities of the media. It is demonstrated that the time duration between complete mixing of the slurry and the sampling process can be optimized for a given sample to best suit the analysis. To maximize this time for a given sample particle size, the medium should be selected to have high viscosity, a density similar to that of the particles, and the sampling depth should be maintained as deep as possible without reaching the bottom of the container. Also, sample recovery for a range of particle size distributions has suggested that samples with a narrower range of distribution (< 20% RSD) have longer sampling time with 100% recovery. © 1990.