All samples leaving the site should be accompanied by what documentation?

• A. Chain-of-Custody record
• B. Chain-of-Custody form
• C. Sample logbook
• D. Delivery manifest

Answer: (A)

Tracking the transfer of samples is essential to preserve their integrity and accountability. When samples leave a site, there needs to be an auditable trail showing who collected or handled them, when, where, and under what conditions. A chain-of-custody record provides this: a signed, time-stamped log that documents every transfer and the individuals responsible for the sample from collection to laboratory receipt. This ensures the sample’s identity remains intact, helps detect tampering or misidentification, and supports quality control and legal defensibility. A chain-of-custody form is related but typically serves as the structured document used to capture the custody events; a sample logbook is more of an internal record that may not alone establish the external custody trail; a delivery manifest focuses on shipment details rather than the continuous custody trail.