What could be a consequence of failing to adhere to chain-of-custody procedures?

Failing to adhere to chain-of-custody procedures can lead to questionable validity of results. The chain of custody refers to the process of maintaining and documenting the handling of samples from the time they are collected until they are analyzed. This is crucial in ensuring that the samples have not been tampered with and that their integrity has been preserved throughout the entire process.

When proper chain-of-custody protocols are not followed, there can be doubts about who handled the samples, when they were collected, and under what conditions they were stored. This lack of documentation can result in skepticism about the reliability of the findings, as stakeholders may question whether any alterations occurred during the sample's journey. Consequently, the credibility of the results can be undermined, impacting legal cases, research outcomes, and other applications reliant on accurate data.

Conversely, the other options highlight positive outcomes that would typically result from proper chain-of-custody practices, like increased sample integrity, defensible results, and timely analysis, none of which would be assured if the procedures are neglected.