What materials are used during DOT drug testing to send urine specimens to the laboratory?

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has very specific guidelines that must be followed throughout the drug testing process. Sending a urine specimen to the laboratory for testing is one part of the process.

The following materials are required after the employee has provided a urine specimen, so that it can be sent off to the laboratory:

Two specimen bottles

When the employee provides a urine specimen, the collector needs to have two specimen bottles on hand. The first bottle is for the primary specimen ("A" bottle, containing at least 30 ml of specimen). The second bottle is for specimen "B" (containing at least 15ml of specimen).

Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (CCF) with tamper evident seals

Tamper evident seals are found on the CCF. There is a seal labelled "A" to be placed on the primary specimen and a seal labelled "B" for the secondary specimen. A pen is also required for the collector to write the date on each seal and for the employee to initial each one. More than one CCF should be available in case the seal is broken during the process (in which case a new CCF and its seals should be used).

The CCF should also be completed as required by DOT procedures in 49 CFR part 40. One copy of the CCF is to be sent off to the lab with the specimen samples as per the details below. Copy two gets sent to the Medical Review Officer, copy four goes to the Designated Employer Representative or authorized service agent, and copy five is given to the donor for their records. Copy three is kept by the collector for at least 30 days, unless specified otherwise by DOT.

Leak-resistant plastic bag

Both specimen bottles and copy one of the CCF are placed inside the appropriate pouches of the leak-resistant plastic bag, and both pouches are sealed.

Appropriate specimen shipping container

A shipping container such as a box or express courier mailer is used to place the sealed plastic bag inside, ready for shipping. The shipping box or bag is sealed appropriately in order to minimize the chance of damage during shipping.