(a) Sample collection.

1. (1) Blood samples may be collected from living individuals only by:

   1. (A) Persons authorized by law; and
   2. (B) Means of:

(i) A sterile, dry syringe and hypodermic needle; or

1. (ii) Other sterile equipment.
2. (2) The skin at the area of puncture shall be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected with a nonvolatile antiseptic.

3. (3) Alcohol or other volatile organic disinfectant solutions shall not be used:

   1. (A) As a skin antiseptic; or

   2. (B) To clean:

      1. (i) Hypodermic needles;
      2. (ii) Syringes; or
      3. (iii) Containers.

(b) Postmortem sample collection.

1. (1) Postmortem samples may be collected by anyone authorized by law.

2. (2) The following precautions must be employed to insure a representative, uncontaminated sample:

   1. (A)

      1. (i) Samples must be taken prior to the start of embalming procedures;
      2. (ii) Blood shall not be obtained by forcing blood from vessels by use of embalming fluids;
   2. (B) Blood is to be withdrawn by syringe from peripheral vessels; and

   3. (C)

      1. (i) If necessary, heart blood may be used.
      2. (ii) Great care must be exercised to prevent dilution of the blood sample by fluids outside the heart, such as pleural or pericardial.
      3. (iii) Heart blood should be used only if the heart is intact.
      4. (c) Sample size.
3. (1) A good sample is five (5) milliliters (cc).

4. (2) Smaller samples may be analyzed if necessary.

   1. (d) Sample container.
5. (1) The blood sample shall be deposited into a tightly stoppered, clean, dry container containing a solid anticoagulant and sodium fluoride or an approved equal as a preservative (see subsection (e) of this section).
6. (2) Alcohol or other volatile organic solvents shall not be used to clean the container.

7. (3) The container shall be clearly identified with the following:

   1. (A) Name of the subject;
   2. (B) Date and time of collection; and
   3. (C) Name or initials of person collecting and sealing sample.

(e) Sample preservation.

1. (1) While not in transit or under examination, all blood samples shall be refrigerated.

2. (2) If the sample is to be analyzed at the Office of Alcohol Testing:

   1. (A) Between two (2) and three (3) milligrams per milliliter of blood of sodium fluoride, or its solid form equivalent, shall be used as a preservative; and
   2. (B) Sodium citrate or potassium oxalate or equivalent, in final concentration of three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) to five-tenths of one percent (0.5%), is recommended as an anticoagulant.

3. (3)

   1. (A) Postmortem blood samples to be analyzed by the office shall be deposited into a tightly stoppered, clean, dry container containing sodium fluoride as a preservative, in a concentration of one percent (1%) or more, (ten milligrams per milliliter (10 mg/ml) of blood) or an approved equal.
   2. (B) A solid anticoagulant such as sodium citrate or potassium oxalate, or equivalent, is also recommended.

(f) Sample witness.

1. (1)

   1. (A) The officer requesting the blood sample should observe the collection of the sample so that he or she may attest to the authenticity of the sample.
   2. (B) He or she should then initial or mark the sample for future identification.
2. (2) The sample should then be secured in a tamperproof manner.