What responsibility do collectors have in ensuring the integrity of the specimen?

The responsibility of collectors in ensuring the integrity of the specimen primarily revolves around ensuring that the specimen is secure and remains uncontaminated. This involves taking the appropriate steps during the collection process to prevent any tampering, contamination, or mishandling of the specimen. Collectors must follow established protocols and procedures, such as properly labeling and sealing the specimen, verifying the identity of the donor, and ensuring that the specimen is stored under suitable conditions until it can be analyzed.

This responsibility is crucial because any compromise to the specimen can lead to inaccurate results, which may affect the outcomes of drug testing or other analyses. By maintaining the specimen's integrity, collectors help uphold the overall reliability and validity of the testing process.