What is the primary purpose of chain-of-custody procedures?

The primary purpose of chain-of-custody procedures is to ensure proper oversight of samples. This involves establishing a documented and unbroken transfer of evidence or samples from the moment they are collected until they are analyzed and reported. Maintaining a clear chain of custody is essential for preserving the integrity of the samples, as it helps verify that they have not been tampered with or contaminated. By documenting each step in the process, including who handled the samples and when, the reliability and validity of the results can be maintained. This practice is critical in legal and regulatory contexts, where the credibility of evidence is paramount.

While improving sample collection methods, facilitating faster analysis of results, and reducing the cost of testing can all be beneficial in a laboratory setting, they are not the primary goals of chain-of-custody procedures. The focus here is specifically on the accountability and traceability that chain-of-custody provides, ensuring that any subsequent analyses or legal proceedings can rely on the evidence being accurately represented and handled throughout its lifecycle.