Department of Health and Human Services 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

Center for Substance Abuse Prevention 

Division of Workplace Programs 

Subject: Guidance for Using the 2010 Federal Custody and Control Form (CCF) 

Date: October 1, 2010 

Table of Contents 

1. When can a federally regulated program begin using the 2010 Federal CCF? ............ 2

2. Can the 2000 Federal CCF be used after October 1, 2010?............................................ 2

3. Where can a sample proof of the 2010 Federal CCF be viewed?................................... 2

4. What statements must appear on the back of each copy of the new Federal CCF? ... 2

5. Can the 2010 Federal CCF be modified?............................................................................ 5

6. Has the HHS Urine Specimen Collection Handbook been revised for use with the 

2010 Federal CCF? ............................................................................................................... 6

7. Has the HHS MRO Manual been revised for use with the 2010 Federal CCF?............ 6

8. Does a laboratory need to change its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual 

for the 2010 Federal CCF?................................................................................................... 6

9. How does a test facility (IITF or laboratory) document specimen receipt using the 

2010 Federal CCF? ............................................................................................................... 6

10. How does a test facility (IITF or laboratory) report primary specimen results to 

MROs using the 2010 Federal CCF?.................................................................................. 7

11. How does a laboratory report split (Bottle B) specimen results to MROs using the 

2010 Federal CCF? ............................................................................................................... 7

12. What are tamper-evident labels/seals?.............................................................................. 7

13. How does an MRO report a verified result to the employer when using the 2010 

Federal CCF? ......................................................................................................................... 8

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1. When can a federally regulated program begin using the 2010 Federal CCF? 

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the use of the new 2010 

Federal CCF beginning October 1, 2010. 

2. Can the 2000 Federal CCF be used after October 1, 2010? 

Yes. The 2000 Federal CCF was published in the Federal Register on June 23, 2000 

(65 FR 39155) with an effective date of August 1, 2000. To allow for depletion of 

existing supplies of the 2000 Federal CCF, OMB permitted the use of this Federal CCF 

in Federal workplace drug testing programs through September 30, 2011. Therefore, for 

one (1) year after the implementation of the revised 2010 Federal CCF on October 1, 

2010, regulated specimens may be collected, tested, and reported using the 2000 

Federal CCF. 

From October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011, Federal agencies may use either

Federal CCF for their workplace drug testing programs. 

As of October 1, 2011, the 2010 Federal CCF will be the only Federal CCF permitted for 

regulated specimens. If a regulated specimen is received at a test facility accompanied 

by the 2000 Federal CCF after September 30, 2011, the test facility (IITF or laboratory) 

must treat this as a correctable discrepancy. 

3. Where can a sample proof of the 2010 Federal CCF be viewed? 

A sample of the 2010 Federal CCF is available on the SAMHSA website 

(http://www.workplace.samhsa.gov/). Additionally, OMB (Reginfo.gov) has a sample 

proof available on the RegInfo.gov website: 

http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewIC?ref_nbr=201007-0930-002&icID=193835. 

4. What statements must appear on the back of each copy of the new Federal 

CCF? 

(a) The Public Burden Statement must appear on all Federal Government forms that 

place a reporting burden on gathering information. This statement must be included on 

the back of each copy of the Federal CCF (i.e., Copies 1 through 4) 

Public Burden Statement 

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a 

collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The 

OMB control number for this project is 0930-0158. Public reporting burden for this 

collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes/donor, 4 minutes/collector, 3 

minutes/test facility, and 3 minutes/Medical Review Officer. Send comments regarding 

this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection information, including 

suggestions for reducing this burden, to SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 1 Choke 

Cherry Road, Room 7-1044, Rockville, Maryland 20857.

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(b) The following statements must be printed on the back of Copy 5: Instructions for 

Completing the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form, Privacy Act 

Statement (For Federal Employees Only), and The Public Burden Statement.

 

Instructions for Completing the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form 

When making entries, use black or blue ink pen and press firmly. 

Collector ensures that the name and address of the HHS-certified Instrumented Initial 

Test Facility (IITF) or HHS-certified laboratory are on the top of the Federal CCF and 

the Specimen Identification (I.D.) number on the top of the Federal CCF matches the 

Specimen I.D. number on the label(s)/seal(s). 

STEP 1: 

Collector ensures that the required information is in STEP 1. Collector enters a remark 

in STEP 2 if Donor refuses to provide his/her SSN or Employee I.D. number. 

Collector gives collection container to Donor and instructs Donor to provide a specimen. 

Collector notes any unusual behavior or appearance of Donor in the remarks line STEP 

2. If the Donor’s conduct at any time during the collection process clearly indicates an 

attempt to tamper with the specimen, Collector notes the conduct in the remarks line in 

STEP 2 and takes action as required. 

STEP 2:

Collector checks specimen temperature within 4 minutes after receiving the specimen 

from Donor and marks the appropriate temperature box in STEP 2. If the temperature 

is outside the acceptable range, Collector enters a remark in STEP 2 and takes action 

as required. 

Collector inspects the specimen and notes any unusual findings in the remarks line in 

STEP 2 and takes action as required. Any specimen with unusual physical 

characteristics (e.g., unusual color, presence of foreign objects or material, unusual 

odor) cannot be sent to an IITF and must be sent to an HHS-certified laboratory for 

testing, as required. 

Collector determines the volume of specimen in the collection container. If the volume is 

acceptable, Collector proceeds with the collection. If the volume is less than required 

by the Federal Agency, Collector takes action as required and enters remarks in STEP 

2. If no specimen is collected by the end of the collection process, Collector checks the 

None Provided box, enters a remark in STEP 2, discards Copy 1, and distributes 

remaining copies as required. 

Collector checks the Split or Single specimen collection box. If the collection is 

observed, Collector checks the Observed box and enters a remark in STEP 2. 

STEP 3:

Donor watches Collector pour the specimen from the collection container into the 

specimen bottle(s), place the cap(s) on the specimen bottle(s), and affix the 

label(s)/seal(s) on the specimen bottle(s). 

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Collector dates the specimen bottle label(s) after placement on the specimen bottle(s). 

Donor initials the specimen bottle label(s) after placement on the specimen bottle(s). 

Collector turns to Copy 2 (Medical Review Officer Copy) and instructs the Donor to read 

and complete the certification statement in STEP 5 (signature, printed name, date, 

phone numbers, and date of birth). If Donor refuses to sign the certification statement, 

Collector enters a remark in STEP 2 on Copy 1. 

STEP 4: 

Collector completes STEP 4 on Copy 1 (signature, printed name, date, time of 

collection, and name of delivery service), places the sealed specimen bottle(s) and 

Copy 1 in a leak-proof plastic bag, seals the bag, prepares the specimen package for 

shipment, and distributes the remaining CCF copies as required.

Privacy Act Statement: (For Federal Employees Only) 

Submission of the requested information on the attached form is voluntary. However, 

incomplete submission of the requested information, refusal to provide a urine 

specimen, or substitution or adulteration of a specimen may result in delay or denial of 

your application for employment/appointment or may result in removal from the Federal 

service or other disciplinary action. 

The authority for obtaining the urine specimen and identifying information contained 

herein is Executive Order 12564 (”Drug-Free Federal Workplace”), 5 U.S.C. Sec. 3301 

(2), 5 U.S.C. Sec. 7301, and Section 503 of Public Law 100-71, 5 U.S.C. Sec. 7301 

note. Under provisions of Executive Order 12564 and 5 U.S.C. 7301, test results may 

only be disclosed to agency officials on a need-to-know basis. This may include the 

agency Medical Review Officer, the administrator of the Employee Assistance Program, 

and a supervisor with authority to take adverse personnel action. This information may 

also be disclosed to a court where necessary to defend against a challenge to an 

adverse personnel action. 

Submission of your SSN is not required by law and is voluntary. Your refusal to furnish 

your number will not result in the denial of any right, benefit, or privilege provided by 

law. Your SSN is solicited, pursuant to Executive Order 9397, for purposes of 

associating information in agency files relating to you and for purposes of identifying the 

urine specimen provided for testing for the presence of illegal drugs. If you refuse to 

indicate your SSN, a substitute number or other identifier will be assigned, as required, 

to process the specimen. 

Public Burden Statement 

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a 

collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The 

OMB control number for this project is 0930-0158. Public reporting burden for this 

collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes/donor, 4 minutes/collector, 3 

minutes/test facility, and 3 minutes/Medical Review Officer. Send comments regarding 

this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection information, including 

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suggestions for reducing this burden, to SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 1 Choke 

Cherry Road, Room 7-1044, Rockville, Maryland 20857. 

5. Can the 2010 Federal CCF be modified? 

Yes. SAMHSA recognizes that suppliers use different hardware and software to print 

forms, and minor differences in appearance will occur. For example, the size of each 

checkbox on the form may be different, the font sizes and styles used for letters may be 

different, or the exact location of an item on a printed form may vary slightly from the 

location indicated on the Federal CCF. These minor changes in appearance are 

permitted since they do not significantly impact the required format. 

The following is a list of acceptable differences and modifications when printing the 

Federal CCF: 

1. The OMB number may appear either vertically or horizontally in the upper right 

hand corner of the form. 

2. The name and address of the test facility and the unique specimen identification 

number at the top of the form and on the specimen bottle label(s)/seal(s) may be 

printed during the original printing and form assembly process or added by 

overprinting after the form is assembled. 

3. Preprinting and/or overprinting the employer name and address, MRO name and 

address, and collection site information is permitted. 

4. The spaces for the employer name and address, MRO name and address, and 

the collection site address may have lines. 

5. The unique specimen identification number at the top of the form and on the 

tamper-evident label(s)/seal(s) may be either a bar code with an associated 

human-readable number or a human-readable number only. 

6. A test facility does not need to assign and record a separate accession number 

in the space at the top of the form if it uses the unique specimen identification 

number to track the specimen after receipt. When this is the case, the form may 

be printed without the words ACCESSION NO. appearing on the top of the form. 

7. The size of each check box may vary slightly. 

8. The font size and style used for letters may vary to enhance readability. 

9. The exact location for each item on the printed form may vary slightly from the 

location indicated on the Federal CCF. 

10. The data entry/information fields may be highlighted using different colors to 

show where the collector, donor, and test facility would be providing information. 

The colors used to highlight the fields may be different for different fields but 

must not prevent making clear facsimiles and photocopies of the information that 

is printed or handwritten in those fields. 

11. The space for the donor’s SSN or Employee I.D. No. may have combs, boxes, or 

a single line. 

12. The legend at the bottom of Copies 2 through 5 may be printed using different 

colors, or a different color stripe may be printed at the bottom of Copies 2 

through 5. To ensure consistency and correct distribution of the copies, if 

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different color stripes or legends are used at the bottom of each copy, the 

following colors must be used: MRO Copy - pink, Collector Copy - yellow, 

Employer Copy - blue, Donor Copy - green. 

13. Reference mark(s) may be used to position the form in a printer to overprint 

information in the correct location or to optically scan the information in the 

various fields. 

14. The size of the two tamper-evident labels/seals may vary but must be at least 3⁄4 

inch wide placed within the space provided at the bottom of Copy 1. 

15. The color of the preprinted information on the “A” specimen bottle label/seal may 

be different than the color of the preprinted information on the “B” specimen 

bottle label/seal. 

16. The form may include a designated space for a collector identification number 

(e.g., as assigned by a collector training organization) in Step 4 beside the 

collector’s signature or printed name. 

6. Has the HHS Urine Specimen Collection Handbook been revised for use with 

the 2010 Federal CCF? 

Yes. The HHS Collection Handbook has been revised to reflect changes in the Federal 

CCF and how the collector completes the form. The revised handbook is available on 

the SAMHSA website (http://www.workplace.samhsa.gov). 

7. Has the HHS MRO Manual been revised for use with the 2010 Federal CCF? 

Yes. The HHS MRO Manual has been revised to reflect changes in the Federal CCF 

and how laboratories will be reporting results. The revised manual is available on the 

SAMHSA website (http://www.workplace.samhsa.gov). 

8. Does a laboratory need to change its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 

manual for the 2010 Federal CCF? 

A certified laboratory will need to change all sections, where appropriate, that refer to 

the 2010 Federal CCF. Since the laboratory will continue receiving "old" forms (2000 

Federal CCF), the SOP manual will need to have sections applicable to both forms until 

October 1, 2011, when the 2000 Federal CCF is no longer approved for use. At that 

time, the laboratory must have procedures to handle specimens submitted with the 

outdated form as having a recoverable discrepancy. 

9. How does a test facility (IITF or laboratory) document specimen receipt using 

the 2010 Federal CCF? 

The test facility that receives the specimen package from the collection site continues 

the specimen’s chain of custody by completing the appropriate chain of custody entries 

in Step 4 (i.e., “Received at Lab or IITF).” In addition to signing and printing his or her 

name, the accessioner records the receipt date, marks the appropriate checkbox to 

document the condition of the primary specimen seal, and releases custody of the 

specimen (e.g., to a storage area). When forwarding a specimen to a laboratory, an IITF 

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sends both the original Federal CCF (Copy 1) and an IITF Supplemental CCF with the 

specimen. The laboratory documents specimen receipt using the IITF Supplemental 

CCF. The laboratory accessioner continues the specimen chain of custody and 

documents the condition of the primary specimen bottle seal (i.e., the seal placed on the 

opened bottle by the IITF) on this form. 

10. How does a test facility (IITF or laboratory) report primary specimen results to 

MROs using the 2010 Federal CCF? 

A test facility may fax, courier, mail, or electronically transmit a legible image or copy of 

the completed Federal CCF (Copy 1) for all results to the MRO. For negative results, a 

test facility may report results using only a computer-generated electronic report, 

provided the report contains sufficient information to ensure that the test result is 

properly associated with the MRO copy (Copy 2) of the Federal CCF. For “rejected for 

testing” results, IITFs and laboratories must send the copy of the completed Federal 

CCF (Copy 1). For all positive, substituted, adulterated, and invalid results, a laboratory 

must send the copy of the completed Federal CCF (Copy 1). For all specimens received 

from an IITF, a laboratory must also send a legible image or copy of the completed IITF 

Supplemental CCF that was received with the specimen. 

11. How does a laboratory report split (Bottle B) specimen results to MROs using 

the 2010 Federal CCF? 

The laboratory that tested and reported the primary specimen (Lab A) will have sent a 

copy of the Federal CCF (Copy 1) to the split testing laboratory (Lab B) with the split 

specimen. For all split specimen results, the split testing laboratory must complete Step 

5b of the Federal CCF (i.e., annotate the laboratory name and address, mark the 

appropriate result checkbox(es), and include the certifying scientist signature, printed 

name and certification date). The laboratory must also complete a laboratory Split 

Specimen Report Form and include a reference to this separate laboratory report in the 

Reason line in Step 5b of Copy 1. The laboratory sends a legible image or copy of the 

completed Federal CCF (Copy 1) and Split Specimen Report Form to the MRO. 

12. What are tamper-evident labels/seals? 

Once applied to a specimen bottle, tamper-evident labels/seals cannot be removed and 

replaced without visible evidence that tampering has occurred. It is the responsibility of 

the supplier of the specimen bottle labels/seals to ensure that they are tamper-evident. 

The two tamper-evident labels/seals must be at least 3⁄4-inch wide, placed within the 

space provided at the bottom of Copy 1 of the 2010 Federal CCF. 

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13. How does an MRO report a verified result to the employer when using the 

2010 Federal CCF? 

An MRO may report all verified results (for primary and split specimens) to the 

agency/employer by: 

1. Faxing the completed Copy 2; 

2. Transmitting a scanned image of the completed Copy 2; or 

3. Faxing a separate report using a letter/memorandum format. 

An MRO must send to the agency/employer a hard copy of either the completed Copy 2 

or the separate letter/memorandum report for all tests reported as positive or as a 

refusal to test because the specimen was adulterated or substituted. 

The result sections on the MRO Copy (Copy 2) of the 2010 Federal CCF (Step 6 for the 

primary specimen and Step 7 for the split specimen) are formatted in accordance with 

MRO reporting requirements in the HHS Mandatory Guidelines and in DOT Regulations 

(49 CFR Part 40). To complete the Federal CCF, the MRO marks the appropriate 

checkbox(es) for the verified result and records information in the designated spaces to 

specify the test results (i.e., drug analytes, substitution, adulteration). The MRO includes 

any explanatory comments on the “Remarks” line.