What, then, are the cases in which a Chain of Custody form must be prepared or additional entries added?
Chain of Custody forms must be prepared or added to when custody (possession of and responsibility for) of samples is transferred from one investigator to another and the samples are being relocated from the lab or controlled field location where they were collected or created. Also, if no Scientific Notebook is being used for data collection, Chain of Custody forms are the default means of recording sample identity and condition information when they are collected or created. Finally, if Chain of Custody forms already exist for samples, any change in condition of the samples (destroyed in use, sub-divided, exposed to uncontrolled environmental conditions, etc.) would need to be recorded on the forms.
