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If you work in food safety, environmental testing, or pharmaceutical QC in South Africa, you’ve likely heard the term “chain of custody.” But what does it actually mean in practice — and does your current sample container support it?
What Is Chain of Custody?
Chain of custody (CoC) is a documented process that tracks a sample from the point of collection through every step until analysis is complete. In legal, regulatory, or audit contexts, CoC documentation is required to prove that a sample has not been tampered with, contaminated, or substituted between collection and testing.In South Africa, CoC requirements arise in several contexts:
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- Food safety compliance audits (FSMS, HACCP, GlobalGAP)
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- Export certification for agricultural products
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- Environmental monitoring and water testing under SANS standards
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- Pharmaceutical batch release testing
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- Dispute resolution between food producers and retailers
What Makes a Vial a “Custody Vial”?
A custody vial has a tamper-evident closure — typically a snap seal, push-down tab, or shrink band — that provides a visible, auditable indication if the vial has been opened after sealing. Once sealed in the field, any attempt to open the vial leaves a permanent visual record. ALS supplies custody vials in 2oz, 4oz, 8oz, and 10oz formats — in clear and colour options — for food, environmental, and pharmaceutical sampling applications.
When Do You Need One?
Not every sample requires a custody vial. For internal QC checks with no audit or legal implications, a standard flip-top vial is perfectly adequate and more cost-effective. Use custody vials when:
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- Samples will be submitted to an accredited external laboratory
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- Results may be used in regulatory submissions or export documentation
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- Samples could be subject to legal challenge or dispute
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- Your QMS requires documented CoC for specific product categories
Questions?
Contact Advanced Laboratory Services for a recommendation on the right vial format for your application: 0861 112 494 or via our contact form.