Description

A laboratory may reject a specimen for urine drug testing if one or more "fatal flaws" are noted on receipt of the specimen.


 

Absolute flaws:

(1) The collector's name is not printed and there is no collector signature on the chain of custody form.

(2) The specimen ID number on the specimen container and on the chain of custody form do not match.

(3) Less than 45 mL of urine was collected by the collector.

 

where:

• A urine sample collected for the Department of Transportation (DOT) urine drug testing program must contain at least 45 mL of urine - 30 mL for bottle A and 15 mL for bottle B in a split specimen collection. A laboratory may refuse to test a sample with a combined volume of less than 45 mL even if one of the bottles meets the bottle requirements. This is a situation where bottles cannot be redesignated.

 

Relative flaws that may be recoverable if there is a split sample with a second bottle that can be redesignated for testing:

(3) The specimen seal is broken or shows signs of tampering.

(4) An insufficient amount of urine is present in the specimen container (from leakage or other cause).

 

If a test has one or more fatal flaws, then the test must be cancelled.

 


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