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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84208</law_id><section_number>18.2-268.7</section_number><catch_line>Transmission of blood test samples; use as evidence</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-269</reference><reference>29.1-738.3</reference><reference>8.01-44.5</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Crimes Involving Health and Safety</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Driving Motor Vehicle, etc., While Intoxicated</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Upon receipt of a blood sample forwarded to the Department for analysis pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Transmission of blood samples" href="/18.2-268.6/">18.2-268.6</a>, the Department shall have it examined for its alcohol or drug or both alcohol and drug content and the Director shall execute a certificate of analysis indicating the name of the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>; the date, time and by whom the blood sample was received and examined; a statement that the seal on the vial had not been broken or otherwise tampered with; a statement that the container and vial were provided or approved by the Department and that the vial was one to which the completed withdrawal certificate was attached; and a statement of the sample&#x2019;s alcohol or drug or both alcohol and drug content. The Director shall remove the withdrawal certificate from the vial and either (i) attach it to the certificate of analysis and state in the certificate of analysis that it was so removed and attached or (ii) electronically scan it into the Department&#x2019;s Laboratory Information Management System and place the original withdrawal certificate in its case-specific file. The certificate of analysis and the withdrawal certificate shall be returned or electronically transmitted to the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which the charge will be heard. <a id="paragraph-301832" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-268.7/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> After completion of the analysis, the Department shall preserve the remainder of the blood until at least 90 days have lapsed. The <span class="dictionary">accused</span> may, at any time prior to the expiration of such 90-day period, by <span class="dictionary">motion</span> filed before the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which the charge will be heard, with notice to the Department, request an <span class="dictionary">order</span> directing the Department to transmit the remainder of the blood sample to an independent laboratory retained by the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> for analysis. On <span class="dictionary">motion</span> of the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>, the report of analysis prepared for the remaining blood sample shall be <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> in <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>, provided that the report is duly attested by a person performing such analysis and the independent laboratory that performed the analysis is accredited or certified to conduct forensic blood alcohol/drug testing by one or more of the following: College of American Pathologists (CAP); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT); or an accrediting body that requires conformance to forensic-specific requirements and that is a signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement with a scope of accreditation that covers the testing being performed. If no notice of a <span class="dictionary">motion</span> to transmit the remainder of the blood sample is received prior to the expiration of the 90-day period, the Department shall destroy the remainder of the blood sample unless the Commonwealth has filed a written request with the Department to return the remainder of the blood sample to the investigating <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency. In such case, the Department shall return the remainder of the blood sample, if not sent to an independent laboratory, to the investigating <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency. <a id="paragraph-301833" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-268.7/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> When a blood sample taken in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Implied consent to post-arrest testing to determine drug or alcohol content of blood" href="/18.2-268.2/">18.2-268.2</a> through <a class="law" title="Transmission of blood samples" href="/18.2-268.6/">18.2-268.6</a> is forwarded for analysis to the Department, a report of the test results shall be filed in that office. Upon proper identification of the certificate of withdrawal, the certificate of analysis, with the withdrawal certificate attached, shall, when attested by the Director, be <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> in any <span class="dictionary">court</span> as <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of the <span class="dictionary">facts</span> therein stated and of the results of such analysis (i) in any criminal proceeding, provided the requirements of subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Procedures for notifying accused of certificate of analysis; waiver; continuances" href="/19.2-187.1/">19.2-187.1</a> have been satisfied and the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> has not objected to the admission of the certificate pursuant to subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Procedures for notifying accused of certificate of analysis; waiver; continuances" href="/19.2-187.1/">19.2-187.1</a>, or (ii) in any civil proceeding.
			Upon request of the person whose blood was analyzed, the test results shall be made available to him.
			The Director may delegate or assign these duties to an employee of the Department. <a id="paragraph-301834" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-268.7/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><metadata></metadata></law>
