CFN Forensic Evidence Collection & Documentation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When collecting a sexual assault evidence kit (SANE kit), what is the correct order for swabbing oral, vaginal, and anal areas?
- Oral first, then vaginal, then anal (Correct answer)
- Anal first, then vaginal, then oral
- Vaginal first, then oral, then anal
- The order does not matter as long as separate swabs are used
Correct answer: Oral first, then vaginal, then anal
Oral swabs are collected first to prevent cross-contamination from other body areas to the mouth.
Question 2: A forensic nurse is documenting blunt force injuries on a patient. Which description is most appropriate for medical-legal documentation?
- 'Patient has a bruise on left arm from being hit'
- 'Contusion measuring 4 cm x 3 cm on the lateral aspect of the left forearm' (Correct answer)
- 'Large purple mark on patient's arm, possibly from abuse'
- 'Victim shows evidence of a struggle on the left upper extremity'
Correct answer: 'Contusion measuring 4 cm x 3 cm on the lateral aspect of the left forearm'
Forensic documentation must be objective, precise, and anatomically descriptive without assumptions about cause or intent.
Question 3: Which technique is recommended for collecting trace evidence such as hair and fibers from a victim's clothing?
- Shaking the clothing over a clean white paper
- Cutting out sections of fabric containing evidence
- Using tape lifts applied to the clothing surface (Correct answer)
- Brushing the surface with a sterile cotton swab
Correct answer: Using tape lifts applied to the clothing surface
Tape lifts are the standard method for collecting trace evidence (hair, fibers, glass) from clothing surfaces without disturbing the garment.
Question 4: A patient presents 72 hours after a sexual assault. Which action is most appropriate regarding forensic evidence collection?
- Decline to collect evidence because it is beyond the collection window
- Collect evidence per protocol since trace evidence may still be present beyond 72 hours (Correct answer)
- Only collect oral swabs since other evidence would be degraded
- Refer the patient to law enforcement for evidence collection only
Correct answer: Collect evidence per protocol since trace evidence may still be present beyond 72 hours
Evidence collection should still be performed beyond 72 hours as trace DNA, injuries, and other evidence may still be recoverable depending on circumstances.
Question 5: What is the purpose of using a colposcope during a forensic sexual assault examination?
- To collect vaginal swabs more accurately
- To provide magnification and photodocumentation of anogenital injuries (Correct answer)
- To measure the depth of lacerations in the vaginal vault
- To irrigate the vaginal canal before evidence collection
Correct answer: To provide magnification and photodocumentation of anogenital injuries
A colposcope provides magnification that reveals microtrauma and allows photodocumentation that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye.
Question 6: When packaging wet biological evidence such as blood-stained clothing, a forensic nurse should:
- Seal it immediately in a plastic bag to prevent contamination
- Allow it to air dry before packaging in a paper bag (Correct answer)
- Place it directly in a biohazard plastic container
- Freeze the evidence immediately to preserve DNA
Correct answer: Allow it to air dry before packaging in a paper bag
Wet biological evidence must be air dried before paper bag packaging to prevent mold growth and bacterial degradation that destroys DNA.
Question 7: During a strangulation assessment, which finding would most strongly indicate manual strangulation requiring forensic documentation?
- Diffuse facial erythema
- Petechial hemorrhages of the conjunctivae and facial skin (Correct answer)
- Bilateral neck tenderness on palpation
- Hoarseness and difficulty swallowing
Correct answer: Petechial hemorrhages of the conjunctivae and facial skin
Petechial hemorrhages result from increased venous pressure during strangulation and are a highly specific forensic indicator of neck compression.
CFN Forensic Evidence Collection & Documentation 2
When collecting a sexual assault evidence kit (SANE kit), what is the correct order for swabbing oral, vaginal, and anal areas?