A printed or saved copy of this document is not the official version
QUEENSLAND CORRECTIVE SERVICES
APPENDIX – FREIGHT OF URINE SAMPLES
Availability: Public
Implement Date: 1 May 2008
Refer procedures – Substance Testing - Corrective Services Facilities; Substance Testing
- Probation and Parole
1.
General
The process for preparing urine samples for freight—
a)
Place barcode sticker with offender surname, first initial and ID number on the
specimen jar.
b)
If freight is by air, seal the specimen jar with parafilm tape around the screw top
horizontally, slightly stretching the tape to roll around itself.
c)
Seal the specimen jar with evidence tape vertically, so as not to obscure the
container label, and have the offender sign the evidence tape at the top.
d)
Ensure that the service provider’s Request for Urinalysis Form is completed,
checking details such as the offender’s name, details, medication admitted,
comments, test requested and date of sample. Place barcode sticker with offender
surname, first initial and ID number on this form.
e)
Complete the Chain of Custody Form, to be signed by the collector of the
specimen and the offender. Place barcode sticker with offender surname, first initial
and ID number on this form.
f)
Place sufficient absorbent material (such as Chux Superwipes) in the plastic
clipseal bag to manage a potential spillage. DO NOT TAPE THE ABSORBENT
MATERIAL TO THE SPECIMEN JAR.
g)
Place the specimen jar into the plastic clipseal bag with the absorbent material on
the bottom of the plastic bag and expel as much air as possible before pressing the
clipseal join together.
h)
Enclose the service provider’s Request for Urinalysis Form and the Chain of
Custody Form in the sleeve of the bag. If to be freighted by road, place in courier
bag, seal, write details on front and contact the courier to collect, place in fridge until
collected.
1.1
Road freight
Then, if freight is by road, using the Australia Post service—
Freight of Urine Samples
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a)
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Ensure the front of the outer packaging states: “Exempt Human Specimens”, “Road
Transport Only” and “Not to be moved by air”.
1.2
Air freight
If freight is by air—
a)
and if the testing officer has completed the IATA Course for Shippers of Infectious
Substances, the officer can continue with the process. If the officer has not
completed the course, the clipseal bag and contents should be refrigerated until it
can be packaged according to IATA guidelines. When an IATA qualified packer is
available, the packer should complete the process. In this latter situation, the
testing officer should confirm with the IATA qualified packer that he or she is
satisfied that the seal was intact on the specimen jar when taking over responsibility
for the jar.
b)
The packager should remove the specimen jar from its plastic bag and check that
the information (including barcode) on the specimen jar matches the details on the
service provider’s Request for Urinalysis Form and Chain of Custody Form. The
packager should also check that the relevant sections of the forms are completed
and that the seals are intact.
c)
Using the electric heatsealer, heatseal the plastic bag about 10–15mm below the
clipseal line, making a permanent seal in the bag. (About a 1½-2 second press in
the heatseal bar will do this).
d)
Staple together both the Request for Urinalysis Form and Chain of Custody Form
and place into the front pouch of the biohazard bag (a request from the Queensland
Health laboratory). Place bubble wrap inside the polystyrene box and place
samples on this. Fold the biohazard bag of each sample over to ensure that the
sample will not move about inside the polystyrene box. Note, multiple specimens
can be sent in the one box. The samples must not be individually wrapped in plastic
wrap. If only a couple of samples, place bubble wrap in between, to keep them
upright.
e)
Close and seal the polystyrene box along its lid with packing tape.
f)
Place the polystyrene box in its cardboard outer casing, thus enclosing the Chain
of Custody Form/s between the polystyrene and cardboard casing.
g)
Seal the cardboard casing with packing tape around movable corners.
h)
Affix ‘to’ and ‘from’ stickers to the top of the cardboard casing. It is required that
phone and/or pager details for the laboratory and the corrective services
facility/district office sending the sample should be included on these labels.
i)
Prepare and peel the consignment note from its backing and affix it to the top of
the cardboard box. Confirm and complete the information required on the
consignment note.
j)
Ring the courier and arrange collection for transport to the laboratory.
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