Zmlynarc

I am having an issue with the science lab processing surface samples. If I send someone out to get one, it appears as a sample in their personal data menu, but as soon as they embark it vanishes. It appears in the science archive under the flight column, but it is not in the vehicle data and the science lab states "no samples to analyze." I have a hunch I will get credit for it if I return the whole vessel to kerbin, but that seems to defeat the purpose of the lab.