What does the Chain of Custody (COC) form ensure?

The Chain of Custody (COC) form is crucial in maintaining the integrity of samples collected for analysis. It ensures that samples are tracked from the moment they are collected until they are analyzed. This tracking process involves documenting every individual who handles the sample, the times and dates of transfer, and the locations where the sample is stored. Such documentation is essential to validate the sample's authenticity and to reduce the potential for contamination or tampering.

Maintaining a clear chain of custody helps guarantee that results from the analysis are credible and can be used in regulatory compliance, litigation, or health assessments. This level of rigor is particularly important in occupational hygiene monitoring, where accurate data is necessary to protect worker health and safety.

The other options do not align with the primary purpose of the COC. The collection of samples in multiples, a set timeframe for analysis, and access restrictions for certain employees do not encompass the tracking aspect that is fundamental to ensuring the reliability of the samples. Hence, the emphasis of the COC is on the traceability and accountability of samples throughout the monitoring process.