Specimen Submission Requirements
The BFT Laboratory may reject specimens if the submitting agency fails to include a completed DUI Toxicology Laboratory Analysis Request Form or does not meet all requirements for specimen submission. Leaky containers will NOT be accepted for analysis.
The BFT will supply blood and urine collection kits to law enforcement agencies upon request. Click here for more information on the specimen collection kits.
Each law enforcement agency is responsible for providing trained phlebotomists/technicians to collect specimens in accordance with universal safety precautions. Click here for guidelines for forensic specimen collection.
A tamper-resistant seal must be placed across the stopper or cap of the specimen container; the person sealing the specimen container must initial the seal. Identification labels for blood tubes must NOT be used to seal the tube.
The BFT will supply copies of the DUI Toxicology Analysis Request Form to law enforcement agencies upon request. The DUI Toxicology Analysis Request Form must be completed and included with the specimen. Ensure that the chain of custody section is completed. For specimens submitted by mail, the chain of custody must be completed as illustrated in the following example:
It is helpful to provide background information such as breath alcohol test results, offense, history of drugs or medications, etc. Please limit analysis requests to suspected drugs or drug categories. Unnecessary additional requests are costly and prevent the laboratory from reporting case results in a timely manner.
Gray top blood collection tubes contain both a preservative (100 mg sodium fluoride) and an anticoagulant (20 mg potassium oxalate). The preservative helps prevent deterioration of the specimen, including changes in alcohol concentration and the breakdown of cocaine. The anticoagulant prevents the sample from clotting.
Samples must be kept secure and refrigerated until shipped or delivered to the laboratory.
Mailed specimens must meet blood borne pathogen shipping requirements and b e packaged to fully contain leakage/spillage in accordance with applicable federal laws (PHS 42 CFR Part 72, rule 173.199). These measures are necessary to protect agency personnel, postal/delivery personnel, and Utah Public Health Laboratories staff from exposure to disease in the event that the specimen tubes leak or break in transit. Do NOT ship needles or other blood collection equipment to the laboratory.
Inner Container
Each sealed and labeled blood specimen tube must be placed in the cushioned receptacles provided in the blood collection kit. Polyethylene urine containers must be placed in the sealable plastic pouches provided in the urine collection kits. The inner container must contain sufficient absorbent material to absorb the entire liquid contents of the collection tube/container in the event of breakage/leaking during transit.
Outer Shipping Box
Each container is to be placed in a crush-proof shipping container made of fiberboard or Styrofoam. The outer container must be sealed, labeled, and biohazard labels must be affixed to the exterior.
Specimens are stored in the laboratory’s evidence refrigerator until they are returned to the submitting agency by UPS or destroyed
Specimens are routinely retained for 3 weeks after the final report is issued. Should an agency require additional testing, the request must be made during this 3-week time period. After this 3-week time period, the laboratory will send agencies a fax notification of specimens ready to be returned or destroyed. Unless the laboratory is contacted, the specimens will be discarded/destroyed 5 weeks after the final report is issued.
