The Department of Transportation has issued a final rule outlining requirements for drug testing chain of custody of urine samples when using electronic forms.
“When using an electronic chain of custody and control form, you must establish adequate confidentiality and security measures to ensure that confidential employee records are not available to unauthorized persons,” said an April 13 announcement in the Federal Register. “This includes protecting the physical security of records, access controls, and computer security measures to safeguard confidential data in electronic form.”
The rule is effective immediately.
DOT said the electronic form requires the same collection of information and distribution of information to the relevant parties as the paper form requires. The only change from the paper custody form to the electronic form is the mechanism for collecting and transmitting the information.
“As a collector or collection site, you must ensure that each specimen you collect is shipped to a laboratory as quickly as possible, but in any case, within 24 hours or during the next business day,” DOT said.
