Adulterate Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Adulterate and links to relevant pages within the course.
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| Collection site security requirements All collection sites must meet the following security requirements: Must be able to prevent unauthorized access to the site during collection. Ensure that the donor does not have access to items that could be used to adulterate or dilute the specimen (e.g. soap, water, cleaning agents, etc.) Secure faucets, toilet tank tops, and other appropriate areas with tamper-evident tape if necessary. Ensure that the donor is at all times under the supervision of the collector or other collection site personnel. Provide for the secure handling and storage of specimens. (Specimens should be stored at 4-6º C. The refrigerator used should not be readily accessible to the general public and should be used only for the storage of urine drug screens and other clinical specimens. The refrigerator should be marked with a biohazard sign. No food or drink should ever be placed in the refrigerator.) | View Page |
| Donor provides the specimen The collector directs the donor to go into the restroom and provide a specimen. The collector must remind the donor to guard against flushing the commode or washing hands until the donor has handed his or her specimen to the collector. (Note: Inadvertently flushing the commode does not automatically require any corrective action by the collector or a recollection. However, to avoid this happening, the collector may want to place obvious signage in the restroom with instructions not to flush the commode or to wash hands.)The collector may set a reasonable time limit for the donor to be inside the restroom. Since the temperature of the specimen must be read without four minutes of urination, a time limit of four minutes in most cases is not unreasonable. The collector should pay close attention to the donor during the entire collection process to note any conduct that clearly indicates an attempt to substitute, adulterate, or dilute the specimen. | View Page |
| Steps for Typical Urine Collection After a positive identification has been made, invite the donor into the area where the collection will be conducted. Be pleasant, but professional. Introduce yourself and generally explain the collection procedure. Be prepared to accommodate donors who do not speak English. Never argue with the donor or be judgmental. Always remember that you are a professional. Conduct yourself in that manner. Ask the donor to remove any unnecessary out clothing such as a coat, jacket, hat, etc., and to leave any briefcase, purse, or other personal belongings with the outer clothing. The donor may retain his or her wallet. If the donor asks for a receipt for any belongings left with the collector, the collector must provide one. Direct the donor to empty his or her pockets and display the items to ensure that no items are present that could be used to adulterate or dilute the specimen or be used as a substitute. If nothing is there, the donor may return the items to his or her pockets. | View Page |
| Donor Preparation The donor must not be asked to remove any article of clothing other than those previously mentioned. Additionally, the donor must not be asked to remove clothing in order to wear an examination gown unless undergoing a physical examination authorized by the Department of Transportation. Boots do not have to be removed unless the collector is suspicious that they contain something in them that could be used to adulterate or dilute the specimen or be used as a substitute.If the donor refuses to remove a head covering because of religious reasons, the collector may exempt the donor from doing so unless the collector has an observable indicator that the donor is trying to hide something inside the head covering. | View Page |
| Donor washes hands Instruct the donor to wash and dry his or her hands. Observe this step. Tell the donor not to wash or dry hands again until after the donor has provided and handed you a specimen. The donor may use soap to wash hands but it must be a liquid. Solid or bar soap gives the donor a chance to conceal soap shavings under the fingernails and subsequently use them to attempt to adulterate the specimen. | View Page |
| Observed collection scenarios Scenario 3:During the initial phases of the collection, when the donor was requested to empty his pockets, the collector noted an item that might contain something which the donor could use to either, dilute, adulterate, or substitute the specimen.Collector’s response:The collector first gets the concurrence of a supervisor then tells the donor that a directly observed collection will be conducted because his conduct indicated a possible attempt to adulterate, substitute, or dilute the specimen. The collector will mark on the CCF that the collection was observed and note under Remarks why it was observed. | View Page |