DRUG TEST SPECIMEN COLLECTION AND ● Examines, processes and analyzes

ACCESSIONING specimen for drug testing;

Review on Functions and Responsibilities: ● Interprets, records, releases and signs out
Head of the Laboratory laboratory results;
Administrative ● Assists in the implementation of quality
● Has general and overall supervision of the assurance program;
facility and all aspects of laboratory work; ● Assists in the evaluation of reagents,
● Has general supervision and conduct of all supplies and equipment;
laboratory personnel; ● Refers to the Head of the Laboratory as the
● Formulates and implements standard need arises.
operation manual that govern the operation Review on Functions and Responsibilities:
of the DTL. This shall be periodically Authorized Specimen Collector
reviewed and updated; ● Restricts unauthorized personnel to enter
● Prepares financial and annual reports of the the collection site during collection;
laboratory; ● Verifies identity of the Client/Donor/Subject;
● Provides other administrative support ● Provides security to specimen supplies,
services such as communications, security records and documents at collection site;
and maintenance services . ● Informs the Client/Donor/Subject the
Technical procedures of specimen collection;
● Supervises and directs all analytical ● Performs only one specimen collection at a
procedures of the laboratory; time;
● Assures quality of all laboratory test results; ● Accepts and seals the specimen container
● Issues, signs out and interprets laboratory in the presence of the Client/Donor/Subject;
results; ● Accomplishes CCF.
● Evaluates and recommends reagents, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
supplies and equipment; REQUIREMENTS: FLOOR PLAN
● Reviews the CCF and reports received from ● Screening Laboratory shall have at least
authorized collector; twenty (20) square meters in floor area.
● Interviews the Client/Donor/Subject, if - Work area must be ten (10) square
necessary; meters with an exhaust fat, sink, and
● Reviews pertinent medical records of storage cabinet.
Client/Donor/Subject, if necessary; ● Confirmatory Laboratory - shall have at least
● Cancels the results of all specimen which sixty (60) square meters in floor area.
are not collected or tested not in accordance - Clinical work area must be thirty (30)
with the DTL manual; square meters with exhaust fan, sink,
● Reviews, rejects, and refers for confirmation fume hood, stock room and
and retesting all specimen and test results instrumental room.
that are positive, adulterated, substituted or ● Designated area which can receive or
invalid; accommodate at least five (5) prospective
● Implements remedial actions necessary to Client/Donor/Subjects at a given time, a
maintain satisfactory operation and hand washing facility, toilet facility, and stall
performance in the laboratory; for the orderly collection of specimen.
● Directs protocol for preventive maintenance Collection Site Requirements
of equipment; ● A suitable clean surface for handling the
● Provides comprehensive, continuing training specimen and completing the required
and education of personnel related to paperwork;
conduct of DTL. ● A secured temporary storage capability to
Review on Functions and Responsibilities: maintain a specimen until it is tested or
Analyst shipped to the laboratory.
● Verifies the completeness of Custody and ● An area to provide Client/Donor/Subject
Control Form (CCF); privacy appropriate to the specimen being
● Prepares specimen for analysis; collected (e.g., toilet);
 ● A controlled and secured area for supplied ● Standardized procedures
and records; ● Detects use within the week
● A poster or information bulletin with a ● Abstaining can produce negative reaction
detailed description of the proper specimen ● Established specimen validity tests
collection processes. Hair Specimen
● A source of water for hand washing external ● Expensive and tedious
to toilet facility (for urine collection) ● 2x more sensitive than urine test
On Site Specimen Collection ● Do not detect recent use
● Specimen are collected at a designated ● Detects chronic substance abuse
area within the drug testing facility ● Requires 1.5x1.5 cm hair clump
● For all mandatory tests except for crime ● Not affected by drug abstinence
scene and post accident ● Can determine temporal pattern
DRUG TEST SPECIMEN COLLECTION AND Blood Specimen
ACCESSIONING ● Most accurate method
Collection Site Requirements ● Least common method
● A toilet/stall ● Short detection time
● Hand washing facility outside of toilet Saliva Specimen
● Specimen booth ● Uncommon method
● Toilet coloring agent ● Easy to administer
On Site Specimen Collection ● Short detection time
● Specimen are collected at a designated ● No reference standardized
area within the drug testing facility Sweat (patch) Specimen
● For all mandatory tests except for crime ● Requires wearing of patch 1-2 weeks
scene and post accident ● Uncommon methods
REMOTE COLLECTION ● No reference standards develop
● Specimen are collected at a temporary ● Surface contaminations can cause false
facility located at a remote site. positive
Remote Collection: ● Can detect use for extended period of time
Allowable Conditions Minimum Quantity of Specimen
● Workplace, school, jail, prison or rehab ● Scalp hair: 100mg or its equivalent
centers ● Saliva: 2ml (single) 1.5 and 0.5 (split)
- Random ● Sweat: DOH cleared patch worn for 7-14
- Follow-up days
- Reasonable suspicion ● Urine: 60ml single 30ml each for split
- Cause sample
● Critically ill or disabled ● Blood: 5ml
● Secure permit from BHFS or CHD for Reasons for Drug Testing
remote collection 10 working days prior to ● Mandatory tests
scheduled collection ● Random tests
● No testing/examination to be done at a ● Reasonable suspicion/cause
remote collection site ● Post accidents
Collection Supplies: Specimen Containers ● Follow up, return to duty
● Urine: 30 or 60 ml, polyethylene bottle wide ● Preemployment
mouth with screw cap Methods of Specimen Collection
● Saliva: 30 ml polyethylene bottle ● Observed collection
● Blood: 10 ml plain test tube - In the presence of ASC
● Hair: self sealed transparent plastic bag ● Unobserved collection
● Sweat: BFAD approved sweat patch - In the absence of ASC
● Tissues: screw capped plastic container ● Submitted samples
Urine Specimen ● Subject to validity tests
● Least expensive, most popular Types of Specimen Collection
● Easy to do Single specimen collection
 ● Specimen is entirely placed in a single 60ml ● Closes, places and initials seal over the lid
bottle bottle in front of donor
Split specimen collection ● Asks donor to fill up and sign Step 5
● Specimen is collected at same time but Forms of Tampering Specimen
placed in 2 separate containers at least ● Dilution
30ml each ● Substitution
Preliminary Procedures Prior to Collection ● Adulteration
1. Verify identity of donor Dilution Techniques
2. Explain basic collection procedure Internal dilution:
3. Answer questions regarding the procedure ● Drinking plenty of water
● Diuretic like Lasix, Tea, Coffee, Beer

Donor Identification: External dilution:

● Photo ID (drivers license, employee ID, ● Addition of water to specimen
passport) Additives/Adulterants
● Identification by authorized agency ● Bleach
representative ● Ammonia
● Any other ID allowed by agency’s workplace ● Liquid soap
drug testing plan ● Table salt
Steps in collection ● Vinegar
● Visine eye drops
CUSTODY AND CONTROL FORMS (CCF)
Custody and Control Forms
● A form used to document the security of
specimen
- All steps of collection
- Persons who handled the specimen
- Status and integrity of specimen
- Pertinent info
● A form document chain of custody from
collection to transport, analysis and
releasing of reports
● Improper entries will invalidate testing
procedure
● With legal and forensic implications
● 3 copies (px/employer, ASC, lab)
Data Entries in CCF
● Patient info: name, address, sex, etc.
● Names, signature of handling specimen
Steps in Collection ● Status of specimen: temp, physical
appearance, other remarks
● Drug test requested
● Result of test (screening/confirmatory/ NRL
level)

Storage of Specimen
Steps in Collection ● Urine: -20 ˚C
● Measure temperature, volume, inspect for ● Scalp hair: cool and dry place
adulteration and substitution. Fills up Step 2 ● Saliva: deep frozen at least –8 to -10 ˚C
and initiates Step 3 of CCF
 ● Blood: separate serum and immediate
freeze at -20 ˚C
● Tissue: macerated and frozen
Specimen Retention
● Negative result= 5days
● Positive result= minimum of 15 days
● Adulterated, substituted, invalid result=
15 days
● Judicial proceedings or upon request=
up to a year

Specimen Rejection at Collection Site:

● All rejected specimen shall be documented
and reported to the Head of the Laboratory
(HOL)
Memorandum for Record (MFR)
● A record to document that recovery,
corrective and remedial measures to
administrative errors
● Accomplished by ASC and other lab
personnel
● Errors are not corrected by a MFR shall be
rejected or canceled
● The specimen collection is considered the
“weakest link” of the drug testing program.
All efforts must be done to make the
collection legally, forensically and technically
indefensible.