What must be retained by the inspector concerning the chain of custody?

Retaining a copy of the chain of custody form is critical for ensuring the integrity of samples and materials being analyzed. This form documents the collection, handling, and transfer of samples, providing a transparent record that can be referred to if any questions arise about the provenance or condition of the samples. It helps establish accountability for the samples, ensuring that they have not been tampered with or improperly handled. This documentation is essential for compliance with regulatory requirements and for maintaining the validity of testing and inspection results.

While other options may be valuable in certain contexts, they do not hold the same critical relevance to the chain of custody as the chain of custody form itself does. For instance, temperature monitoring logs might be useful for environmental conditions but do not directly pertain to the chain of custody integrity. Similarly, witness statements and signed analysis reports could play roles in specific situations, but they do not replace the essential function of the chain of custody form in tracking and safeguarding the continuity of ownership and condition of samples.