Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Transport and Receipt of Samples


The IO Team observed that although the Pan American Games Doping Control Services

provided security bags for the transportation of samples to the laboratory, on several

occasions the security seals provided with the bags were not used, which could have

threatened the security of the samples during transport. Although this is not a

requirement in the IST, such an approach could lead to better practice.


The IO Team observed the transfer of the samples from the DCO responsible for each

sample collection session at each venue to the DCO in charge of handling all samples

collected to the location where the samples were stored, while waiting the final

transportation by plane to the laboratory in Mexico City. No major concerns were

observed with the exception of the one mentioned above and related to the unsealed

transportation bags. The solution of using a DCO’s hotel room to store the samples was

not ideal but measures taken to guarantee security were satisfactory. To improve

security, the IO Team proposed that a lock should be added to the fridge and to always

have a DCO present in the room to assure the full security of the samples and to prevent

no one being available to receive samples being delivered to the room.

Some transport challenges had occurred in the beginning of the Games, namely security

guards requiring that the security bags were opened at the airport to check the contents

and the air transportation company preventing the transportation of blood samples,

which resulted in the PASO MC to suspend blood collections during two days. After some

initiatives taken by the Doping Control Services of Pan American Games the IO Team

was informed that the blood samples were transported to the laboratory and all

problems concerned with transportation were resolved.

The laboratory personnel confirmed that the samples were delivered and signed off on

receipt of the samples, closing the chain of custody.

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