Final answer:
The most important thing for a medical assistant to remember when performing a chain of custody urine drug sample is to ensure proper documentation and chain of custody procedures are followed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most important thing for a medical assistant to remember when performing a chain of custody urine drug sample is to ensure proper documentation and chain of custody procedures are followed. This includes:
- Verifying the procedure name and recording it accurately
- Confirming that the needle, sponge, and instrument counts are complete (or not applicable)
- Checking that the specimen is correctly labeled with the patient's name
- Addressing any issues with the equipment
Following these protocols maintains the integrity of the urine drug sample and ensures accurate testing and interpretation of the results. It also protects against tampering or contamination that could lead to false-positive or false-negative results.