6.4 Chain of Custody Collections

6.4 Chain of Custody Collections

Chain of custody (COC) is the documented, unbroken path of a specimen from the donor to the testing laboratory. Task 5.04 focuses on collections used for employment drug testing, legal/forensic toxicology, paternity, and other medicolegal purposes. A technically perfect urine cup is worthless in court if paperwork or seals fail.

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When Chain of Custody Is Required

Common COC situations:

• Workplace or pre-employment urine drug screens
• Forensic blood or urine alcohol/toxicology
• Legal paternity / relationship DNA collections
• Court-ordered or probation testing
• Some sports or custody-dispute collections

If a requisition or kit says “chain of custody,” use the kit and forms provided. Do not substitute ordinary laboratory containers or skip seals because the donor is “in a hurry.”

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Unbroken Documentation

The COC form typically records:

• Donor identifying information
• Photo ID type and number (or reason ID was unavailable, per protocol)
• Date and time of collection
• Specimen type and unique ID/barcode matching seals
• Collector printed name, signature, and employee/credential ID
• Temperature reading (urine) and observations (color, unusual odor, signs of tampering)
• Each transfer: who released the specimen, who received it, date/time
• Courier or shipping details when applicable

Every blank that applies must be completed in ink (or electronic equivalent). Errors are corrected with a single line, initials, and date—not scribbled over. Never backdate.

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Collector ID, Photo ID, and Seals

Collector identification: You are part of the legal record. Sign exactly as required; do not let another employee sign your name.

Donor photo ID: Compare the face and name to a government or employer-acceptable photo ID before collection. If ID is inadequate, follow the protocol—many programs require collection to stop or to proceed only with a documented exception from the ordering authority.

Seals:

1. Have the donor watch you pour/split or close the cup as the protocol specifies.
2. Place tamper-evident seals over the lid so any opening breaks the seal.
3. Ask the donor to initial the seal if the form requires it.
4. Place the sealed specimen into the kit bag with absorbent material as instructed.
5. Keep seal numbers identical to the numbers written on the COC form.

A seal that does not match the form is a custody failure.

Temperature Strips for Urine Drug Screens

Freshly voided urine should fall within an accepted temperature range shortly after collection (commonly about 90–100°F / 32–38°C when read within approximately 4 minutes, per many federal workplace protocols—always follow the kit in hand).

Do not guess. Read the temperature strip exactly when the instructions say to read it, and record the value on the form.

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Witnessed vs Unwitnessed Collections

• Unwitnessed (routine privacy): Donor voids in a secured restroom prepared to reduce tampering (bluing in toilet water, no running water access, removed soap/hidden containers per protocol) while the collector waits outside.
• Witnessed / observed: A same-gender observer (or protocol-defined observer) directly watches urine leave the body—used for suspicion of tampering, prior invalid results, or specific program orders.

Never perform an observed collection without authorization and proper observer rules. Never allow a friend or unauthorized person to hold the specimen “for a minute.”

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Never Leave the Specimen Unattended

From the moment the donor hands you the cup until it is sealed in the shipping container and placed in controlled storage or courier pickup, the specimen remains in your control or in a locked temporary custody area defined by policy.

Prohibited actions:

• Leaving a filled cup on the counter while you answer a phone in another room
• Asking the donor to carry the sealed specimen to the lab alone
• Storing custody specimens in an unlocked break-room refrigerator with lunch bags
• Opening a sealed specimen to “top off” volume

If custody is broken, document the event and notify the supervisor/program administrator immediately. Honesty about a break is mandatory; concealment destroys legal defensibility.

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Professional Conduct During COC Collections

Treat donors with respect while remaining procedure-strict. Explain each step briefly. Do not accuse a donor of cheating because temperature is borderline—follow objective protocol. Maintain confidentiality; COC results are sensitive.

Chain-of-custody competence is equal parts technical skill and documentation discipline. On the PTC, choose the answer that preserves continuous control, matching seals, verified identity, and complete forms.

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Kit Integrity Before You Begin

Inspect the custody kit before opening it in front of the donor. Confirm seals on the kit itself are intact, forms are present, specimen labels match, and nothing is expired. If the kit is incomplete, obtain a new sealed kit rather than borrowing a random cup and a photocopied form. Starting with a compromised kit creates a documentation defect you cannot repair later. Explain to the donor that the careful steps protect both the donor and the testing program from disputes about specimen identity.