What substance requires a chain of custody?

Certain substances, particularly those involved in legal or forensic contexts, require a strict chain of custody to ensure that they have been handled and processed in a manner that preserves their integrity and reliability. Serum ethanol (ETOH) levels, which can be critical in cases involving driving under the influence or other legal proceedings, often necessitate a chain of custody. This procedure helps to document the collection, transfer, and analysis of the sample, thus maintaining a clear and unbroken line of accountability.

The chain of custody is vital to prove that the sample has not been tampered with or contaminated and that it accurately reflects the individual's condition at the time of collection. In legal contexts, maintaining this chain is crucial for the results to be admissible in court.

Other substances like urinalysis samples, liver function tests, and throat cultures may not require such stringent protocols because they are typically used for diagnostic purposes rather than legal evidence. While proper handling is still important for all samples to ensure accurate results, the legal implications surrounding the use of serum ETOH make its chain of custody particularly significant.