Good records allow a result to be reviewed accurately. Use this checklist for workplace, clinical, court, probation, treatment, school, or sports testing. Not every item applies to every program.
Before the test
- Written policy, court order, clinical order, consent, or testing notice.
- Reason for testing and governing authority.
- Required date, location, specimen, and identification.
- Current medication and supplement list retained privately.
- Applicable prescription, TUE, or medical-exception records.
At collection
- Collector and site details.
- Collection date and time.
- Specimen and custody or accession number.
- Seal numbers and split-specimen or A/B identifiers.
- Collector copy of the custody or doping-control form.
- Written comments about any irregularity.
Laboratory record
- Laboratory name and relevant certification or accreditation.
- Screening analytes, cutoffs, methods, and results.
- Confirmation analytes, cutoffs, methods, concentrations, and units.
- Specimen-validity measurements and classifications.
- Corrected or amended reports.
- Chain-of-custody and transport documentation when relevant.
Review and decision
- MRO, clinician, toxicologist, compliance officer, or results-authority communications.
- Documents submitted to explain medication or treatment.
- Final verified result and date reported.
- Adverse-action, court, treatment, or eligibility decision.
- Policy section relied upon.
Retesting and appeal
- Deadline and method for requesting a split specimen or B-sample analysis.
- Written request and proof of delivery.
- Second-laboratory report and custody record.
- Grievance, hearing, or appeal request.
- Final decision and any correction to the record.
Storage and privacy
Store records securely and share only with authorized people. Medical documents can contain sensitive information. Keep originals when possible and note when, how, and to whom a copy was sent. Follow applicable retention rules rather than discarding records while review is pending.
When records are unavailable
Request them in writing from the appropriate custodian and identify the program authority for access. Do not assume every laboratory must release every internal document directly to every requester; health-record law, employment rules, court procedure, and contracts differ.
Related: How to Review or Dispute a Result, Chain of Custody, and Tools and Resources.