The logical fallacy here is striking. It is comparing apples and oranges. After detailing the specific quality assurance safeguards designed to prevent the donor of a drug or alcohol test from being falsely accused of illicit use, the authors give a general definition and purpose of “clinical” testing then state that when testing for drugs the systems in place are up to snuff as they are already being used to make “life-and-death medical decisions.” The take-home message is that “forensic” testing is unnecessary hyperbole designed for legal challenges. The clinical lab systems in place are used for critically important testing and can therefore be used for drug-testing–after all, parolees and probationers don’t require it.
Chain-of-Custody refers to the document or paper trail showing the collection, control, transfer, analysis and disposition of laboratory tests. It is the written documentation of a specimen from the moment of collection to the final destination to the review and reporting of the final results. The multi-part chain-of-custody form or “custody and control” form is part and parcel of this process. It contains stickers to sign and seal the specimen so that it cannot be tampered with and the form itself is signed by the appropriate parties as the test specimen travels from place to place. Information is added to the form as it travels from person to person. It has been given the status of a legal document as it has the ability to invalidate a specimen with incomplete information. Once the sample is analyzed it is reviewed by a Medical Review Officer (MRO) for final review. In…
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Disrupted Physician 