What information should be included in a lab report for a positive confirmatory result?

• A. Analyte identified, concentration, units, date/time, assay methodology, specimen ID, chain-of-custody reference, confirmatory criteria, and quality control flags.
• B. Only analyte identified and concentration.
• C. Just the specimen ID.
• D. Only the date/time.

Answer: (A)

A complete positive confirmatory lab report must document what was found, how it was measured, and how the sample was handled to ensure the result is accurate, traceable, and defensible. Include the analyte identified and its concentration with units so the substance and its level are clear. Include the date and time of the result to establish when testing occurred. Include the assay methodology used for the confirmatory test, so others can understand the test's specificity and limitations. Include the specimen ID so the result is linked to the correct sample. Include the chain-of-custody reference to show the sample's integrity throughout handling and testing. Include the confirmatory criteria used to declare the result positive, and any quality control flags indicating whether QC passed or failed during the run. Together these elements provide a complete, auditable report.