SECTION 310:638-1-8.1. Hair specimen collection procedures

(a)   Designation of collection site. Each hair drug testing program shall have one (1) or more designated collection sites which have all necessary personnel, material, equipment, facilities, and supervision to provide for the collection, security, temporary storage, and shipping or transportation of hair specimens to a licensed drug testing facility.

(b)   Security. While security is important with any collection, in the case of hair, only the temporary storage area in the designated collection site needs to be secure.

(c)   Chain of custody. Chain of custody standardized forms shall be properly executed by authorized collection site personnel upon receipt of specimens. Handling and transportation of hair specimens from one authorized individual or place to another shall always be accomplished through chain of custody procedures. Every effort shall be made to minimize the number of persons handling specimens.

(d)   Access to authorized personnel only. The hair collection site shall be off limits to unauthorized personnel during the actual collection of specimens.

(e)   Privacy. Procedures for collecting hair shall be performed on one individual at a time to prevent substitutions or interference with the collection of reliable samples.

(f)   Integrity and identity of specimen. Precautions shall be taken to ensure that the root end of a hair specimen is indicated for the testing facility who performs the testing. The maximum length of hair that shall be tested is 3.9 cm distal from the skin. This length may be changed if a review officer requests the testing of proximal segments to assist their evaluation of testing data. The collection of pubic hair is not permitted. The information on the hair specimen container and on the chain of custody form shall identify the individual from whom the specimen was collected. The following minimum precautions shall be taken when collecting a hair specimen to ensure specimens are obtained and correctly identified.

(1)   When an individual arrives at the collection site, the collection site person shall request the individual to present photo identification. If the individual does not have proper photo identification, the collection site person shall contact the supervisor of the individual, the coordinator of the drug testing program, or any other employer official who can positively identify the individual. If the individual's identity cannot be established, the collection site person shall not proceed with the collection.

(2)   If the individual fails to arrive at the assigned time, the collection site person shall contact the appropriate authority to obtain guidance on the action to be taken.

(3)   The collection site person shall note any unusual behavior or appearance on the chain of custody form.

(4)   Hair shall be cut as close to the scalp as possible. Upon taking the specimen from the individual, the collection site person shall determine that it contains approximately 1/2 inch of hair when fanned out on a ruler (e.g. about 40 mg of hair).

(5)   Both the individual being tested and the collection site person shall keep the specimen in view at all times prior to the specimen container being sealed with a tamper resistant seal and labeled with the individual's specimen number and other required information.

(6)   The collection site person shall label the container which contains the hair with the date, the individual's specimen number, and any other identifying information provided or required by the drug testing program.

(7)   The individual shall initial the container for the purpose of certifying that it is the specimen collected from the individual.

(8)   The collection site person shall indicate on the chain of custody form all information identifying the specimen. The collection site person shall sign the chain of custody form next to the identifying information or the chain of custody on the specimen container.

(9)   The individual shall be asked to read and sign a statement certifying that the specimen identified as having been collected from the individual is in fact the specimen the individual provided.

(10)   The collection site person shall complete the chain of custody form.

(g)   Collection control. To the maximum extent possible, collection site personnel shall keep the individual's specimen container within sight both before and after collection. After the specimen is collected, it shall be properly sealed and labeled. An approved chain of custody form shall be used for maintaining control and accountability of each specimen from the point of collection to final disposition of the specimen. The date and purpose shall be documented on an approved chain of custody form each time a specimen is handled or transferred and every individual in the chain shall be identified. Every effort shall be made to minimize the number of persons handling specimens.

(h)   Transportation to the testing facility. Collection site personnel shall arrange to transport the collected specimens to the drug testing facility. The specimens shall be placed in containers which shall be securely sealed to eliminate the possibility of undetected tampering. The collection site personnel shall ensure that the chain of custody documentation is sealed separately from the specimen and placed inside the container sealed for transfer to the drug testing facility.

[Source: Added at 17 Ok Reg 381, eff 11-1-99 (emergency); Added at 17 Ok Reg 2045, eff 6-12-00]