Definition - What does Chain of Custody mean?
Chain of custody is a process that involves the collection and discharge of a donor specimen as it leaves hands between all points of contact from the time of testing until a result comes back. A custody-and-control form (CCF) serves as proof by listing the names of the donor and collector(s), following the methods used to handle and transport the urine specimen.SureHire explains Chain of Custody
The urine specimen is sealed and preserved in a tamper-proof bag through a coordinated relay to track the contents of the drug specimen by an attached label subject to review. Each party involved in the drug testing process must adhere to the chain of custody routine to ensure the urine sample retains its base makeup. A Medical Review Officer (MRO) serves as a liaison in the chain of custody by holding the employee to account for prescriptions that can cause skewed test results.
An oversight in the CCF submission can impede the chain of custody format unless evidence of a suspected drug use case is ruled out by a false positive. The chain of custody is a sensitive pool of trained clinicians with follow-up skills to streamline drug testing. The MRO will compare findings against the chain of custody records to support the case for a positive test result needed for legal proceedings by an employer.
