Chain of Custody
The documented, unbroken sequence of handling and transfer of a biological specimen from collection through analysis, ensuring traceability and integrity.
Full Definition
In clinical laboratory and pathology contexts, chain of custody refers to the chronological record documenting every individual who collected, handled, transported, transferred, or analyzed a specimen. It is particularly critical for medicolegal cases, forensic pathology, and drug testing, where specimen integrity and identity must be legally defensible. Laboratory accreditation bodies such as CAP and ISO 15189 require documented chain-of-custody procedures. Editors working on laboratory compliance documents should ensure the term is hyphenated consistently ('chain of custody' as a noun phrase; 'chain-of-custody' as a modifier before a noun, e.g., 'chain-of-custody documentation').
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate as a compound modifier before a noun ('chain-of-custody form') but leave open as a standalone noun phrase ('the chain of custody was maintained').
In Context
- "The chain-of-custody form must be completed at each transfer point from the surgical suite to the pathology department." — Laboratory compliance policy
- "A break in the chain of custody was identified when the specimen log failed to record the courier handover time." — Laboratory accreditation audit report