Okla. Admin. Code § 310:638-1-8

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 310:638-1-8 - Urine specimen collection procedures

(a)Designation of collection site. Each urine drug testing program shall have one or more designated collection sites which have all necessary personnel, materials, equipment, facilities, and supervision to provide for the collection, security, temporary storage, and shipping or transportation of urine specimens to a licensed drug testing facility.

(b)Security. Procedures shall provide for the designated collection site to be secure. If a collection site facility is dedicated solely to urine collection, it shall be secure at all times. If a facility cannot be dedicated solely to drug testing, the portion of the facility used for testing shall be secured during drug testing.

(c)Chain of custody. Chain of custody standardized forms shall be properly executed by authorized collection site personnel upon receipt of specimens. Handling and transportation of urine specimens from one authorized individual or place to another shall always be accomplished through chain of custody procedures. Every effort shall be made to minimize the number of persons handling specimens.

(d)Access to authorized personnel only. No unauthorized personnel shall be permitted in any part of the designated collection site when urine specimens are collected or stored.

(e)Privacy. Procedures for collecting urine specimens shall allow individual privacy. No employer or representative, agent or designee of the employer shall directly observe an applicant or employee in the process of producing a urine sample, provided collection occurs in a manner reasonably calculated to prevent substitutions or interference with the collection or testing of reliable samples.

(f)Integrity and identity of specimen. Precautions shall be taken to ensure that a urine specimen is not adulterated or diluted during the collection procedure and that information on the urine specimen bottle and on the chain of custody form can identify the individual from whom the specimen was collected. The following minimum precautions shall be taken to ensure that unadulterated specimens are obtained and correctly identified:

(1) To deter the dilution of specimens at the collection site, toilet bluing agents shall be placed in toilet tanks wherever possible, so the reservoir of water in the toilet bowl always remains blue. There shall be no other source of water i.e., no shower or sink, in the enclosure where urination occurs.

(2) When an individual arrives at the collection site, the collection site person shall request the individual to present photo identification. If the individual does not have proper photo identification, the collection site person shall contact the supervisor of the individual, the coordinator of the drug testing program, or any other employer official who can positively identify the individual. If the individual's identity cannot be established, the collection site person shall not proceed with the collection.

(3) If the individual fails to arrive at the assigned time, the collection site person shall contact the appropriate authority to obtain guidance on the action to be taken.

(4) The collection site person shall ask the individual to remove any unnecessary outer garments such as a coat or jacket that might conceal items or substances that could be used to tamper with or adulterate the individual's urine specimen. The collection site person shall ensure that all personal belongings such as a purse or briefcase remain with the outer garments. The individual may retain his or her wallet.

(5) The individual shall be instructed to wash and dry his or her hands prior to urination.

(6) After washing hands, the individual shall remain in the presence of the collection site person and shall not have access to any water fountain, faucet, soap dispenser, cleaning agent or any other materials which may be used to adulterate the specimen.

(7) The individual may provide the specimen in the privacy of a stall or otherwise partitioned area that allows for individual privacy.

(8) The collection site person shall note any unusual behavior or appearance on the chain of custody form.

(9) In the exceptional event that a drug testing program designated collection site is not accessible and there is an immediate requirement for specimen collection (e.g., an accident investigation), a public rest room may be used according to the following procedures: A collection site person of the same gender as the individual shall accompany the individual into the public rest room which shall be made secure during the collection procedure. If possible, a toilet bluing agent shall be placed in the bowl and any accessible toilet tank. The collection site person shall remain in the rest room, but outside the stall, until the specimen is collected. If no bluing agent is available to deter specimen dilution, the collection site person shall instruct the individual not to flush the toilet until the specimen is delivered to the collection site person. After the collection site person has possession of the specimen, the individual shall be instructed to flush the toilet and to participate with the collection site person in completing the chain of custody procedures.

(10) Upon receiving the specimen from the individual, the collection site person shall determine that it contains at least forty-five (45) ml of urine under the split sample method of collection or thirty (30) ml of urine under the single sample method of collection.

(A) If drug testing is to be conducted in a testing facility which performs both the initial screening test and the confirmatory test at the same location, urine may be collected under either the single sample method of collection, or the split sample method of collection.

(B) If drug testing is to be conducted in a testing facility which performs only the initial screening test, the split sample method of collection shall be used.

(i)Split sample collection method.

(I) The donor shall urinate into a container or a specimen bottle capable of holding at least sixty (60) ml.

(II) If a collection container is used, the collection site person, in the presence of the donor, pours the urine into two specimen bottles. Thirty (30) ml shall be poured into one bottle, to be used as the primary specimen. At least fifteen (15) ml shall be poured into the other bottle, to be used as the split specimen.

(III) If a single specimen bottle is used as a collection container, the collection site person shall pour thirty (30) ml of urine from the specimen bottle into a second specimen bottle to be used as the primary specimen and retain the remainder, i.e., at least fifteen (15) ml, in the collection bottle to be used as the split specimen.

(IV) Both bottles shall be shipped in a single shipping container to the testing facility.

(ii)Single sample collection method.

(I) The collection site person may choose to direct the donor to urinate either directly into a specimen bottle or into a separate collection container.

(II) If a separate collection container is used, the collection site person shall pour at least thirty (30) ml of the urine from the collection container into the specimen bottle in the presence of the donor.

(C) In either collection methodology, upon receiving the specimen from the donor, the collection site person shall determine if it has at least thirty (30) ml of urine for the primary or single specimen bottle, and where the split specimen collection method is used, an additional fifteen (15) ml of urine for the split specimen bottle. If the individual is unable to provide such a quantity of urine, the collection site person shall instruct the individual to drink not more than twenty-four (24) ounces of fluids and, after a period of up to two (2) hours, again attempt to provide a complete sample using a fresh collection container. The original insufficient specimen shall be discarded. If the donor is still unable to provide an adequate specimen, the insufficient specimen shall be discarded, testing discontinued, and an official of the drug testing program so notified.

(11) After the specimen has been provided and submitted to the collection site person, the individual shall be allowed to wash his or her hands.

(12) Immediately after the specimen is collected, the collection site person shall measure the temperature of the specimen. The temperature measuring device used shall accurately reflect the temperature of the specimen and not contaminate the specimen. The time from urination to temperature measurement is critical and in no case shall exceed four (4) minutes.

(13) If the temperature of a specimen is outside the range of 32 - 37^oC/90 - 100^oF, that is a reason to believe that the individual did alter or substitute the specimen, and another specimen shall be collected under direct observation of a same gender collection site person and both specimens shall be forwarded to the testing facility for testing. An individual may volunteer to have an oral temperature taken to provide evidence to counter the reason to believe the individual did alter or substitute the specimen caused by the specimen's temperature falling outside the prescribed range.

(14) Immediately after the specimen is collected, the collection site person shall also inspect the specimen to determine its color and look for any signs of contaminants such as unusual odor or sudsing. Any unusual findings shall be noted on the chain of custody form.

(15) All specimens suspected of being adulterated shall be forwarded to the testing facility for testing.

(16) Whenever there is reason to believe that a particular individual did alter or substitute the specimen provided, a second specimen shall be obtained as soon as possible under the direct observation of a same gender collection site person.

(17) Both the individual being tested and the collection site person shall keep the specimen in view at all times prior to its being sealed and labeled. If the specimen is transferred to a second bottle, the collection site person shall request the individual to observe the transfer of the specimen and the placement of the tamper-proof seal over the bottle cap and down the sides of the bottle.

(18) The collection site person and the individual shall be present at the same time during procedures outlined in paragraphs (f)(19) - (f)(22) of this section.

(19) The collection site person shall place securely on the bottle an identification label which contains the date, the individual's specimen number, and any other identifying information provided or required by the drug testing program.

(20) The individual shall initial the identification label on the specimen bottle for the purpose of certifying that it is the specimen collected from the individual.

(21) The collection site person shall indicate on the chain of custody form all information identifying the specimen. The collection site person shall sign the chain of custody form next to the identifying information.

(22) The individual shall be asked to read and sign a statement certifying that the specimen identified as having been collected from the individual is in fact that specimen the individual provided.

(23) A higher level supervisor shall review and concur in advance with any decision by a collection site person to obtain a specimen under the direct observation of a same gender collection site person based on a reason to believe that the individual did alter or substitute the specimen provided.

(24) The collection site person shall complete the chain of custody form.

(g)Collection control. To the maximum extent possible, collection site personnel shall keep the individual's specimen bottle within sight both before and after the individual has urinated. After the specimen is collected, it shall be properly sealed and labeled. An approved chain of custody form shall be used for maintaining control and accountability of each specimen from the point of collection to final disposition of the specimen. The date and purpose shall be documented on an approved chain of custody form each time a specimen is handled or transferred and every individual in the chain shall be identified. Every effort shall be made to minimize the number of persons handling specimens.

(h)Transportation to the testing facility. Collection site personnel shall arrange to transport the collected specimens to the drug testing facility. The specimens shall be placed in containers designed to minimize the possibility of damage during transport, for example, specimen boxes or padded mailers; and those containers shall be securely sealed to eliminate the possibility of undetected tampering. On the tape sealing the container, the collection site supervisor shall sign and enter the date specimens were sealed in the container for transfer. The collection site personnel shall ensure that the chain of custody documentation is sealed separately from the specimen and placed inside the container sealed for transfer to the drug testing facility.

Okla. Admin. Code § 310:638-1-8

Added at 11 Ok Reg 4339, eff 7-14-94 (emergency); Added at 12 Ok Reg 517, eff 12-12-94 (emergency); Added at 12 Ok Reg 3069, eff 7-27-95; Amended at 17 Ok Reg 381, eff 11-1-99 (emergency); Amended at 17 Ok Reg 2045, eff 6-12-00