Peptidetesting

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General

Chain of custody

Chain of custody is the documented record of how a laboratory sample is handled, where it is stored, and who handled it, from collection to final testing. It helps prove that the tested material was not altered, contaminated, or swapped.

Also called: CoC

Chain of custody is a formal, unbroken documentation record of a sample's physical history. It links the material tested in a laboratory to the material originally collected. For lab samples and Certificates of Analysis (CoA), this process ensures that the material handled and stored is identical to the material described in the final report.

Chain of custody is essential for trustworthy lab results

A lab report or Certificate of Analysis (CoA) is only reliable if the laboratory can prove a documented chain of custody for the tested material. This record provides the necessary proof that the sample analyzed is exactly what was collected. Without this documentation, issues like mislabeling or cross-contamination during transit can make the results you receive untrustworthy.

A chain of custody log tracks the physical sample through its entire lifecycle by recording these core details:

  • Unique sample identifier
  • The person who collected the sample
  • Exact time of collection
  • Specific storage conditions
  • Any transfers or freezer moves
  • All individuals who handled the sample

Differences between chain of custody and analytical testing

Chain of custody does not measure the chemical purity or identity of a sample. Instead, it only documents how the physical material was handled and provides a record showing it was not tampered with. While a high-quality CoA will reference this log, the CoA itself is the report of scientific test results, whereas the chain of custody is the tracking record for the physical material.

Sources

  2. Chain of Custody - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - NIH
  3. Good laboratory practice - FDA GLP regulations for laboratories
  4. Q7A Good Manufacturing Practice Guidance for Active ... - FDA
  5. Human Foods Program (HFP), Office of Regulatory Testing ...
  6. [PDF] Q2(R2) Validation of Analytical Procedures - FDA
  7. FDA Releases Guidance on Analytical Procedures | BioPharm International
  8. FDA Requirements for Laboratory Sample Management | QIA
  11. Initiating a Chain of Custody Program in the Laboratory | Sapio Sciences
  12. The Chain of Custody Form: Sample Collection, Where it All Begins
  13. What Is Chain of Custody In The Lab? | LabKey
  14. Certificates of Analysis: Don’t Trust, Verify | Pharmaceutical Technology
  15. Certificate of Analysis (CoA) – Lot-Level Proof
  16. D4840 Standard Guide for Sampling Chain-of-Custody Procedures
  17. IUPAC - chain of custody (15547)
  18. Research Peptide Chain-of-Custody Log Template for Canadian Labs | Northern Compound