Evidence Collection Guidelines
Evidence Collection Guidelines
This document provides evidence collection guidelines for the following types of evidence. Your agency 's policies may vary. Please check with your supervisor if you have any questions.
Contents
Blood Stains Seminal Stains Hair Fibers and Threads Glass Paint Flammable Liquids Firearms Evidence Tool Marks ws Questioned Documents Latent Fingerprints
In all cases, evidence must be photographed prior to collection attempts. At least one photo should include a scale for reference, but initial photos should be free of any markings.
Blood Stains
Blood that is in liquid pools should be picked up on a gauze pad or other clean sterile cotton cloth and allowed to air dry thoroughly, at room temperature. It should be refrigerated or frozen as soon as possible and brought to the Laboratory as quickly as possible. Delays beyond 48 hours may make the samples useless. The Industry standard is now sterile cotton swabs and cardboard swab boxes, which are then placed in an envelope. Freezing is now frowned upon, due to potential cellular damage – refrigeration is good.
• If close to the Laboratory, deliver stained object immediately.
• If unable to deliver to the Laboratory, or if the object must be mailed, allow the stain to air dry completely before packaging.
• Do not heat stained material or place it in bright sunlight to dry. Hang clothing and similar articles in a room where there is adequate ventilation.
• If not completely dry, label and roll in paper or place in a brown paper bag or box and seal and label container. Place only one item in each container. Do not use plastic containers.
Dried Blood Stains
• On clothing, if possible, wrap the item in clean paper, place the article in a brown paper bag or box and seal and label container. Do not attempt to remove stains from the
This document provides evidence collection guidelines for the following types of evidence. Your agency 's policies may vary. Please check with your supervisor if you have any questions.
Contents
Blood Stains Seminal Stains Hair Fibers and Threads Glass Paint Flammable Liquids Firearms Evidence Tool Marks ws Questioned Documents Latent Fingerprints
In all cases, evidence must be photographed prior to collection attempts. At least one photo should include a scale for reference, but initial photos should be free of any markings.
Blood Stains
Blood that is in liquid pools should be picked up on a gauze pad or other clean sterile cotton cloth and allowed to air dry thoroughly, at room temperature. It should be refrigerated or frozen as soon as possible and brought to the Laboratory as quickly as possible. Delays beyond 48 hours may make the samples useless. The Industry standard is now sterile cotton swabs and cardboard swab boxes, which are then placed in an envelope. Freezing is now frowned upon, due to potential cellular damage – refrigeration is good.
• If close to the Laboratory, deliver stained object immediately.
• If unable to deliver to the Laboratory, or if the object must be mailed, allow the stain to air dry completely before packaging.
• Do not heat stained material or place it in bright sunlight to dry. Hang clothing and similar articles in a room where there is adequate ventilation.
• If not completely dry, label and roll in paper or place in a brown paper bag or box and seal and label container. Place only one item in each container. Do not use plastic containers.
Dried Blood Stains
• On clothing, if possible, wrap the item in clean paper, place the article in a brown paper bag or box and seal and label container. Do not attempt to remove stains from the