Understanding Chain of Custody in Drug & DNA Testing
Why It Matters for Accuracy, Compliance, and Legal Validity
Whether you’re undergoing a drug test for employment or a DNA test for legal purposes, one term you’ll likely hear is “chain of custody.” It may sound technical, but it plays a critical role in protecting the integrity of your test results. At National Testing Services (NTS), we follow strict chain of custody protocols to ensure every test is accurate, confidential, and legally defensible.
What is Chain of Custody?
Chain of custody refers to the documented process of collecting, handling, storing, and transferring a test sample from the moment it’s taken to the moment results are reported. This includes every person who handles the sample, every location it travels to, and every step of processing it undergoes.
It’s essentially a security and accountability system for your test.
A strong chain of custody ensures:
✅ No tampering or sample switching
✅ Legal admissibility in court
✅ Accuracy of results
✅ Compliance with federal and industry regulations (like DOT or CPS requirements)
If a test result needs to be used in a court case, employment hearing, or child custody proceeding, chain of custody is non-negotiable.
When Is Chain of Custody Required?
Chain of custody is used in:
DOT drug & alcohol testing
Legal DNA testing (paternity, siblingship, grandparent)
Court-ordered or CPS-referred testing
Employer and workplace compliance tests
Even some employers request it for random or post-accident testing to protect themselves from liability.
How Chain of Custody Works at NTS
At National Testing Services, here’s what our chain of custody process looks like:
1.Verified Collection
A trained technician collects the sample using proper procedures, while verifying participant identity with government-issued ID.
2. Documentation
Each step is logged using a Chain of Custody Form (CCF). This includes sample ID, date/time of collection, collector info, and signatures.
3. Sealing & Handling
The sample is immediately sealed in tamper-evident packaging and stored or shipped under secure conditions.
4. Secure Transfer to Lab
The sample is sent to an accredited laboratory (AABB, DOT, etc.) with documentation intact.
5. Result Reporting
Results are reported only to the authorized recipient—employer, court, agency, or client.
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