CFN Evidence Collection Process 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A sexual assault victim reports that the assault occurred in a pool. Which consideration is MOST important regarding evidence collection?
- Vaginal/anal swabs are still viable and should be collected immediately (Correct answer)
- Water immersion eliminates all biological evidence so collection is unnecessary
- Only clothing evidence should be collected in water-immersion cases
- Evidence collection should be postponed until the victim showers
Correct answer: Vaginal/anal swabs are still viable and should be collected immediately
Biological evidence may still be recoverable even after water immersion and swabs should be collected promptly from appropriate anatomic sites.
Question 2: When labeling evidence collected during a SANE examination, which information is MANDATORY on each item?
- Patient's full name only
- Case number, collector's initials, date/time, and anatomic source (Correct answer)
- Hospital name and attending physician's name
- Patient's date of birth and insurance number
Correct answer: Case number, collector's initials, date/time, and anatomic source
Each evidence item must be labeled with the case number, collector's initials, collection date/time, and the specific anatomic source for chain of custody integrity.
Question 3: A forensic nurse collects pubic hair combings. What is the correct procedure for packaging this evidence?
- Place loose hair in a plastic tube
- Fold the comb and combings in clean paper, then package in a paper envelope (Correct answer)
- Place the comb directly in a plastic bag to prevent hair loss
- Tape the comb to the evidence form for secure transport
Correct answer: Fold the comb and combings in clean paper, then package in a paper envelope
The comb and all combings should be folded within clean paper and placed in a paper envelope to prevent loss and allow breathability.
Question 4: Which of the following injuries would the forensic nurse prioritize photographing with a measuring scale (ruler)?
- Generalized skin erythema
- Patterned bruising consistent with a belt buckle (Correct answer)
- Scattered petechiae on the neck
- Diffuse edema of the lower extremities
Correct answer: Patterned bruising consistent with a belt buckle
Patterned injuries such as those from a belt buckle require scale photography because the pattern size and shape are critical forensic evidence for object identification.
Question 5: A forensic nurse finds a foreign object during a pelvic examination of a sexual assault victim. What is the correct action?
- Remove it immediately and place it in a labeled container
- Leave it in place, photograph it, then remove with gloved forceps into a labeled paper container (Correct answer)
- Leave it in place until law enforcement arrives to remove it
- Photograph it and leave it for the gynecologist to remove
Correct answer: Leave it in place, photograph it, then remove with gloved forceps into a labeled paper container
Foreign objects should be photographed in situ before removal, then carefully collected with forceps into a labeled container to preserve evidence.
Question 6: When is it acceptable for a forensic nurse to collect evidence from an unconscious, non-consenting adult patient?
- Never; evidence collection always requires explicit informed consent
- When law enforcement requests collection and provides a court order
- When the patient is incapacitated and collection is in their best interest and legally authorized (Correct answer)
- Only when the patient's family member provides consent
Correct answer: When the patient is incapacitated and collection is in their best interest and legally authorized
Evidence collection from an incapacitated patient may proceed when legally authorized and when collection serves the patient's best interests under applicable jurisdiction laws.
Question 7: What is the primary reason forensic nurses use sterile, distilled water rather than saline when moistening swabs for evidence collection?
- Saline causes DNA degradation when it contacts biological material
- Distilled water avoids introducing sodium chloride that may interfere with some laboratory analyses (Correct answer)
- Saline contains preservatives that inhibit bacterial growth needed for culture
- Distilled water is less expensive and more readily available in clinical settings
Correct answer: Distilled water avoids introducing sodium chloride that may interfere with some laboratory analyses
Distilled water is preferred because saline's sodium chloride content can interfere with certain PCR-based DNA analyses used in forensic laboratories.
CFN Evidence Collection Process 4
A sexual assault victim reports that the assault occurred in a pool.
Which consideration is MOST important regarding evidence collection?