Collector Plays Major Role
DOT Guidelines to Urine Collection

There are a number of issues that surround the use of urine samples for drug testing, most concern collection; therefore the collector has a major role in the success of a workplace screening and testing program. The Department of Transportation’s drug testing program says the collector is responsible
for maintaining the integrity of the specimen and collection process.

The collector is the one individual in the testing process with which all employees have direct, face to face contact. Without the assurance of integrity of the specimen and collection process, the test itself
may lose validity.

Without the collector’s sensitivity to an employee’s privacy, the entire testing program may be subject to criticism. It is imperative that collectors fully understand and follow these procedures. The collector prepares the collection site to collect urine specimens. All collection supplies must be available, the area properly secured, water sources secured, and bluing (coloring) agent placed in all toilets as specified in sections two and three of the DOT's guidelines.

The collector begins the collection without delay after the employee arrives at the collection site. Do not wait because the employee is not ready or states he or she is unable to urinate. In most cases, employees who state they cannot provide a specimen will, in fact, provide sufficient quantity to complete the testing process. (If an alcohol breath test is also scheduled, the alcohol test
should be conducted first, if practicable.)

DOT calls for the collector to request the employee to present an acceptable form of identification. If the employee cannot produce positive identification, the collector must verify the identity of the employee. If the employee asks the collector to provide identification, the collector must show the
employee some form of identification. It must include the collector’s name and the employer’s (or collection site) name. It does not have to be picture identification or include the collector’s home address or telephone number.

The collector explains the basic collection procedures to the employee and reviews the instructions on the back of the custody control form (CCF) with the employee. The collector asks the employee to remove any unnecessary outer clothing (e.g., coat, jacket, hat, etc.) and to leave any briefcase,
purse or other personal belongings he or she is carrying with the outer clothing.

The employee may retain his or her wallet. If the employee asks for a receipt for any belongings left with the collector, the collector must provide one.

The collector directs the employee to empty his or her pockets and display the items to ensure that no items are present that could be used to adulterate the specimen. If nothing is there that can be used to
adulterate a specimen, the employee places the items back into the pockets and the collection
procedure continues. If the employee refuses to empty his or her pockets, this is considered a refusal to cooperate in the testing process.

The collector instructs the employee to wash and dry his or her hands, under the collector’s observation, and informs the employee not to wash his or her hands again until after the employee provides the specimen to the collector. The employee must not be allowed any further access to water or other materials that could be used to put into the specimen.

The collector either gives the employee or allows the employee to select the collection kit or collection container (if it is separate from the kit) from the available supply. Either the collector or the employee, with both present, then unwraps or breaks the seal of the kit or collection container. Note:
Even if the collection kit is sealed, the collection container must still be sealed or individually
wrapped in a plastic bag or shrink wrapping; or must have a peelable, sealed lid or other easily visible tamper-evident system. Do not unwrap or break the seal on any specimen bottle at this time.

Unwrap only the collection container. The collector directs the employee to go into the room used for urination, provide a specimen of at least 45 mL, not to flush the toilet, and return with the specimen as soon as possible after completing the void. Inadvertently flushing the toilet does not automatically
require any corrective action by the collector or a recollection. However, to guard against this action, the collector may want to place a card with instructions not to flush by the toilet handle or tape or otherwise
secure the handle with tamper-evident tape.) The collector may set a reasonable time limit for the employee to be inside the bathroom and this time frame should be explained to the employee.

After the employee gives the specimen to the collector, the collector must check the temperature of the specimen, check the specimen volume, and inspect the specimen for adulteration or substitution. The collector or collection site must ensure that each specimen collected is shipped to a laboratory as
quickly as possible, but in any case within 24 hours or during the next business day.

If the specimen will not be shipped immediately, the collector is responsible for ensuring its integrity and security. Specimens in plastic bags, which have not been placed into shipping containers or which are awaiting a laboratory courier, must be kept in a secure location. The specimens need
not be under lock and key, however, procedures must exist that would ensure specimens cannot be subject to tampering. FSM For more information, go to www.dot.goov/ost/dapc/ .