How do I check a medical courier’s chain-of-custody and specimen handling records?
Ask for a sample of custody records and follow a few specimens from pickup to delivery. Look for a signature or scan at every handoff, times that make sense, and clear notes when something goes wrong. Then ask drivers and the client labs how handling really works.
Start with the paperwork. Ask for the form or system used at pickup, at each handoff and at delivery. Pick several jobs at random, including a busy day, a weekend and a late-night run, and follow each from start to finish. Check that every step has a name, a time and a note, and that the times are possible.
Next, look for what goes wrong. Ask about missing, delayed or damaged specimens and how each was handled: who was told, what was written down and how the client reacted. Read incident notes for tone and speed. A company that records and learns from errors is safer to own than one that says none occur.
Finally, check the people and the practice. Ask drivers what they do with a specimen when a stop runs long, how it is stored and what training they had. Ask clients how they find the service. Because this work touches private health information, ask your lawyer what to examine about privacy practice and what to ask of the seller. Keep copies of what you review.
Key takeaways
- Follow several specimens, chosen by you, from pickup to delivery.
- Check every handoff for a name, a time and a note.
- Read incident notes for what went wrong and how fast it was fixed.
- Ask your lawyer about privacy practice before you rely on the records.
Related reading
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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