Why it matters
Even accurate analysis can produce a harmful conclusion when attached to the wrong person. Identity controls need to cover both physical handling and the digital steps that connect samples to reports.
A practical example
In a hypothetical laboratory, two correctly processed tubes receive each other's record identifiers. Quality checks on the sequence files alone might not reveal that the final reports are assigned incorrectly.
An important distinction
A sample swap differs from contamination: material may remain unmixed while its identity is wrong. It can also occur in a data mapping or reporting step. Investigation should trace the association through the workflow before assigning a physical cause.
Sources and further reading
- PRIMARY SOURCE NIST: Chain of custody
The example above is hypothetical. Related cases provide context; they do not imply that every case involved this mechanism.