What does the term "chain of custody" refer to in laboratory practices?

The term "chain of custody" refers to the process of ensuring sample integrity during collection, transport, storage, and analysis. It is crucial in maintaining the authenticity and reliability of the samples throughout their lifecycle, especially in legal and regulatory contexts. Each individual who handles the sample must document their interaction with it, ensuring that the sample has not been tampered with or altered in any way. This rigorous documentation helps to uphold the credibility of the testing results, highlighting that the sample's integrity has been maintained from the point of collection through to analysis.

While the other options relate to laboratory practices, they do not encompass the comprehensive concept of chain of custody. The method of storage may be critical for preserving sample quality, but it does not address the full process of tracking and documenting sample custody. Similarly, tracking equipment movement and cleaning schedules are essential for laboratory efficiency and safety, but they do not pertain to the foundational principle of ensuring sample integrity as chain of custody does.