METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TESTING AND CONTROLLING A CUSTODY OF A FLUID SPECIMEN
A system for automatically testing a fluid specimen, e.g., urine, to indicate the presence of specified chemical components in the specimen. The system preferably utilizes an assaying device comprised of a specimen container having a unique identifier thereon and a cap which carries at least one test strip. A method for testing and controlling a custody of the specimen comprises obtaining a specimen from a donor, wherein the specimen is obtained at a service site; storing the specimen in the specimen container; performing a test on the specimen using a reader device in communication with a computer, wherein the test is performed at the service site; providing an electronic chain of custody form that controls a chain of custody procedure for the specimen; and allowing the donor to sign the electronic chain of custody form at the service site by signinig an electronic signature pad.
1 . A method of testing a specimen comprising:
obtaining a specimen from a donor;
storing the specimen in a specimen container;
performing a test on the specimen;
providing an electronic chain of custody form that controls a chain of custody procedure for the specimen; and
allowing the donor to sign the electronic chain of custody form by signing an electronic signature pad.
2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the specimen is obtained at a service site.
3 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the test is performed on the specimen at the service site.
4 . The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the test is performed using a reader device.
5 . A method of testing a specimen comprising:
obtaining a specimen from a donor, wherein the specimen is obtained at a service site;
storing the specimen in a specimen container;
performing a test on the specimen using a reader device in communication with a computer, wherein the test is performed at the service site;
providing an electronic chain of custody form that controls a chain of custody procedure for the specimen; and
allowing the donor to sign the electronic chain of custody form at the service site by signing an electronic signature pad.
6 . The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the reader device is in communication with an input/output device that enables entering of information.
7 . The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the input/output device is in communication with the computer.
8 . The method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising the step of entering donor information into the input/output device.
9 . The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the specimen is identified by a unique identifier.
10 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising the step of validating the unique identifier.
11 . A method comprising:
obtaining a specimen from a donor;
storing the specimen in a specimen container on which is located a unique identifier for positively associating the specimen with the donor;
performing a test on the specimen using a reader device in communication with a computer;
uploading a test result obtained with the reader device to the computer;
providing an electronic chain of custody form that controls a chain of custody procedure for the specimen; and
having the donor sign the electronic chain of custody form by signing an electronic signature pad, such that by signing the chain of custody form, a closely controlled chain of custody procedure is administered.
12 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the computer is a host computer, and the reader device is in communication with the host computer via a communications network.
13 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the test result is uploaded to the host computer via the communications network.
14 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the reader device is in communication with an input/output device that enables entering of information and subsequent uploading of the information to the host computer.
15 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising the step of entering donor information into the input/output device.
16 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising the step of printing a copy of the electronic chain of custody form.
17 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising the step of uploading the donor information to the host computer.
18 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the reader device is an on-site device operable to perform the test at a service site.
19 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising the step of validating the unique identifier.
20 . A method of testing a specimen comprising:
obtaining a specimen from a donor;
storing the specimen in a specimen container having a unique identifier associated with it;
inputting the unique identifier into a computer;
performing a test on the specimen;
providing an electronic chain of custody form that controls a chain of custody procedure for the specimen; and
allowing the donor to sign the electronic chain of custody form by signing an electronic signature pad.
21 . The method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the specimen is obtained at a service site.
22 . The method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the test is performed on the specimen at the service site.
23 . The method as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the test is performed using a reader device.
24 . The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the reader device reads the unique identifier associated with the specimen container.