Which type of specimen requires a chain of custody form?

The requirement of a chain of custody form is critically important for drug testing specimens. This process ensures the integrity of the specimen from the point of collection to the time it is analyzed in a laboratory. A chain of custody form documents every person who handles the specimen, the date and time of collection, and the purpose of the collection, providing a clear and traceable path for the specimen. This is essential in legal and workplace drug testing scenarios to prevent tampering or contamination and to maintain the validity of the results.

In contrast, routine blood specimens, serum specimens, and plasma specimens, while they are still subject to certain handling protocols, do not necessitate a chain of custody because they are typically collected for diagnostic purposes rather than for legal reasons. This distinction is what makes the drug testing specimens the specific choice that requires a chain of custody.