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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>76404</law_id><section_number>46.2-341.26:7</section_number><catch_line>Transmission of samples</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-341.27</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Titling, Registration and Licensure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Licensure of Drivers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="6.1">Commercial Driver's Licenses</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Upon receipt of a blood sample forwarded to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> for analysis pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Transmission of blood samples" href="/46.2-341.26_6/">46.2-341.26:6</a>, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall have it examined for its alcohol or drug content, and the Director shall execute a certificate of analysis indicating the name of the suspect; 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 <span class="dictionary">Department</span> 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 content. The Director or his representative shall remove the withdrawal certificate from the vial and either (i) attach it to the certificate of analysis and <span class="dictionary">state</span> in the certificate of analysis that it was so removed and attached or (ii) electronically scan it into the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>&#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-274261" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-341.26_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 <span class="dictionary">Department</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, request an <span class="dictionary">order</span> directing the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">person</span> 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. <span class="dictionary">Department</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall destroy the remainder of the blood sample unless the Commonwealth has filed a written request with the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> to return the remainder of the blood sample to the investigating <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency. In such case, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> 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-274262" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-341.26_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 chemical test to determine alcohol or drug content of blood of commercial driver" href="/46.2-341.26_2/">46.2-341.26:2</a> through <a class="law" title="Transmission of blood samples" href="/46.2-341.26_6/">46.2-341.26:6</a> is forwarded for analysis to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, 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 that 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 <span class="dictionary">person</span> whose blood or breath was analyzed, the test results shall be made available to him.
			The Director may delegate or assign these duties to an <span class="dictionary">employee</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>. <a id="paragraph-274263" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-341.26_7/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1992, c. 830; 2003, cc. 933, 936; 2005, cc. 868, 881; 2009, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 1, 4; 2014, c. 328; 2017, c. 623; 2019, c. 474.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
