Pre-employment drug screening has become a routine operation in the hiring process. Companies requiring drug testing before deciding to onboard new employees are looking to keep their businesses safe and productive. Drug screening gives a final look at a prospective employee, and delivering a reliable result is vital for employers, collectors, and donors alike.
A majority of employers prefer to use a specific method of drug testing called the chain of custody. What makes this type of drug testing unique is the meticulous process itself. Chain of custody and drug testing is about using a strict method of screening following a distinct paper trail that can be easily traced. Pursuing this chain to a tee results in a high rate of test validity.
What Is the Chain of Custody?
The chain of custody stands for the approach that each sample collected gets handled with attention and care by the people in custody of the specimen. There are specific steps to follow and protocols to be observed to properly track the urine sample throughout the screening process. The chain of custody process disseminates such knowledge and ensures documentation is detailed with integrity for accurate results and overall peace of mind.
Standard Chain Procedures
Chain of custody procedures must be followed by a small hand of people. The fewer individuals involved, the more accurate the testing process can be. Donors can test to determine what may be found in their sample during testing. Drug test strips, like those carried here at the American Screening Corporation, can provide a fast response. Donors must come to the testing site with government documentation for identification and must be prepared to properly leave a specimen for collection.
A chain of custody form is then to be filled out by the donor and the technician. The collection container is checked to be labeled clearly and accurately. The collection process is thus completed by both, the collector ensuring that no tampering of the specimen has occurred during the collection process before it is sealed securely without risk of contamination.
After the sample is sent over for lab testing and the collected specimen is processed, records of analysis are retained if needed to be traced. Lab technician’s tools analyze the sample thoroughly. Senior staff or a Medical Review Officer will check over the records of this chain of custody before reporting the final results of the test.
Reliability and Validity
Whether the testing was ordered for a job opportunity or legal reasons, having a proven outcome changes everything. If the testing result is inaccurate, the consequences could be fatal to the life behind the collected sample. Final reporting following the chain of custody and drug testing procedures establishes a strong safeguard from inaccuracy. Appropriate documentation and handling protocols are of the utmost importance. As mentioned above, the results of such crucial drug tests can decisively change a person’s life.
