Chain of Custody and Drug-Screen Collection
Chain of custody documents every hand-off of a specimen; in a DOT urine collection the donor shows photo ID, gives at least 45 mL, the temperature is read within 4 minutes (32-38 C / 90-100 F), and the collector splits, seals and signs in the donor's presence.
Chain of custody basics
- Chain of custody: the documented record of who handled the specimen, from the moment the donor hands it to the collector until it is destroyed (49 CFR 40.3).
- Forensic samples, such as blood alcohol for legal use, must keep their identity and integrity from collection through analysis and reporting (California 17 CCR 1219).
- The collector keeps personal control of each specimen and its custody form, handles it alone with the donor, keeps it in view of both until sealed, and stays at the site until it is sealed (49 CFR 40.43(d)).
- The custody and control form (CCF) documents the specimen's handling; at collection the DOT collector completes Step 4: printed name, date and time of collection, signature and the delivery service (49 CFR 40.79(a)(2)).
Preview only. The full sheet also covers: Prepare the collection site (DOT, 49 CFR 40.43); DOT urine collection, in order; Key numbers; Problems and what the collector does.
Sources
- 49 CFR 40.3 What do the terms used in this part mean? (chain of custody, collector, primary and split specimen, specimen bottle) · U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo), Code of Federal Regulations, 2025 edition
- 49 CFR 40.43 What steps must operators of collection sites and collectors take to protect the security and integrity of urine collections? · U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo), Code of Federal Regulations, 2025 edition
- 49 CFR 40.61 What are the preliminary steps in the collection process? (paragraph (c) positive identification) · U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo), Code of Federal Regulations
- 49 CFR 40.63 Collector steps before the employee provides a urine specimen · National Archives, eCFR (Office of the Secretary of Transportation)
- 49 CFR 40.65 What the collector checks when the employee presents a urine specimen · National Archives, eCFR (Office of the Secretary of Transportation)
- 49 CFR 40.67 When and how is a directly observed urine collection conducted? · Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), National Archives and U.S. Government Publishing Office
- 49 CFR 40.71 How does the collector prepare the urine specimen? (split specimen, tamper-evident bottle seals, donor initials) · U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo), Code of Federal Regulations, 2025 edition
- 49 CFR 40.79 How is the collection process completed? (CCF Step 4 chain of custody, copies, shipping within 24 hours) · U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo), Code of Federal Regulations, 2025 edition
- 49 CFR 40.83 How laboratories process incoming specimens (fatal flaws) · National Archives, eCFR (Office of the Secretary of Transportation)
- 49 CFR 40.191 What is a refusal to take a DOT drug test · National Archives, eCFR (Office of the Secretary of Transportation)
- 49 CFR 40.193 Insufficient specimen (shy bladder) · National Archives, eCFR (Office of the Secretary of Transportation)
- 49 CFR 40.73 How an oral fluid specimen is collected · National Archives, eCFR (Office of the Secretary of Transportation)
- Cal. Code Regs. tit. 17, 1219 - General (forensic alcohol samples: identity and integrity maintained) · California Department of Public Health, via Cornell LII
- Drug Testing (Medical Test) · MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
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