What chain of custody means
Chain of custody is the documented record of who handled a specimen and when, from collection through transport to the performing laboratory.
Where it commonly breaks
Most gaps are procedural rather than technical.
- Incomplete labeling at the point of collection
- Missing signatures or times during handoff
- Undocumented storage before transport
- Different processes at different sites
Making it routine
A short written procedure, a single form and periodic spot checks are usually enough to keep the process consistent through staff changes.
Related TMS pages
Educational content only
This article is general education for healthcare professionals and is not clinical, legal, coding or reimbursement advice. Clinical decisions remain with the treating healthcare provider. Toxicology Management Services is not a laboratory; laboratory testing is performed by qualified laboratory partners. Never submit patient information through this website.
One partner. Complete medication monitoring management.
Talk with a TMS consultant about program design, documentation standards, laboratory partner coordination and technology for your specialty.
