Mediterranean

SPECIMEN RECEIVING/ACCESSIONING

To ensure the utmost security, specimens are received in a limited access secure area. Each specimen is in a sealed box and/or bag. The accessioner follows a careful Chain of Custody process to ensure the utmost Quality Assurance of the specimen as well as the security of the patient identity.  The accessioner ensures that all industry-standard requirements for the specimen and requisition are fulfilled and will contact the client within 24 hours of the specimen received time if there are any issues detected with the specimen or requisition. 

Each specimen is handled individually with the Accessioner only having one specimen open at a time. The specimen is assigned to a batch during Accessioning. 

Specimens are maintained in the secure accessioning area until testing is completed. Aliquots are maintained in temporary storage racks until they are transferred securely to the initial screening personnel.

Quality Control Blind Samples

Within each batch, there are internal Quality Control (QC) blind samples.  These blind samples add further Quality Assurance of the batch.  The content and location of the blinds are unknown to the screening personnel. These blind samples are prepared in GCMS certified drug free urine. At least 20% of these are positive for amphetamine, BE, morphine, PCP, or THCA. 

DRUGSCAN® employs an external blind program. This program involves the submission of ten samples monthly to challenge accessioning, screening and confirmation accuracy. 

ALIQU0TING PROCEDURES

Specimens are aliquoted for initial screening one at a time by pouring the specimen bottle into a barcode labeled aliquot vial with the accessioning number.

Upon completion of initial testing, negative and presumptive positive specimens are separated from each other. Aliquots for confirmation testing are poured from the specimen bottle into properly labeled vial. These specimens are transferred to a positive storage bin. This action is annotated on the Batch Specimen Chain of Custody form.  A positive aliquot chain of custody form is initiated for the aliquots to be transferred for further confirmation analysis.