Adulteration Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Adulteration and links to relevant pages within the course.
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| Specimen integrity After the donor gives the specimen to the collector, the collector must check for three things: To see if specimen is within acceptable temperature range. To see if volume of specimen is sufficient. Signs of tampering or adulteration of specimen. | View Page |
| Observed collection scenarios Scenario 4: The donor returns from the restroom with a sufficient specimen. It is very warm to the touch. The collector is unable to obtain a reading from the temperature strip. Collector’s response: The collector completes the collection and prepares the specimen for shipment. The collector explains the situation with a supervisor. If the supervisor concurs that an observed collection is in order, the collector next tells the donor that a new collection will be conducted under direct observation. The collector explains that because the temperature of the specimen was not within the acceptable range (90-100º F/32-38º C) there is suspicion of substitution or adulteration. A new CCF is initiated. The collector marks on the CCF that the collection is observed and notes under Remarks why it is observed. The collector also notes the control number of the suspect collection. The observed specimen along with the suspect specimen are both shipped to the laboratory in separate plastic tamper-resistant bags. | View Page |
| Observed collection scenarios Scenario 5: The collector notices that the urine the donor just handed to her has a very strong smell like that of a cleaning product such as bleach. Collector’s response: The collector completes the collection in the usual manner and prepares the specimen for shipment. The collector explains the situation to a supervisor. If the supervisor concurs that an observed specimen should be collected, the collector explains to the donor that because of the strong, unusual smell, the first specimen is suspect for adulteration and that a directly observed collection will be done. A new CCF is initiated. The collector marks on the CCF that the collection is observed and notes under Remarks why it is observed. The collector also notes the control number of the suspect collection. The observed specimen along with the suspect specimen are both shipped to the laboratory in separate plastic tamper-resistant bags. In addition to an unusual smell, other indications of adulteration might be an unusual color that cannot be explained by medication, particles or debris in the urine, and a heavy or thick foam that is inconsistent with urine. | View Page |