Storage & Preservation Flashcards
7 cards from real ETC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Storage & Preservation flashcards as text
What is the primary reason biological evidence such as blood swabs must be air-dried before packaging?
Answer: To prevent mold and bacterial degradation from moisture
Moisture trapped in sealed packaging promotes mold and bacterial growth that degrades biological evidence and can destroy DNA.
Which storage environment is MOST appropriate for long-term preservation of latent fingerprint cards?
Answer: Cool, dry, dark environment
Latent fingerprint cards are best preserved in cool, dry, dark conditions to prevent fading of developed prints and degradation of the substrate.
A technician needs to store a firearm recovered from a crime scene. What is the first step before placing it in the evidence locker?
Answer: Render it safe and document its condition
Firearms must be rendered safe (verified unloaded) and their condition documented before storage to ensure officer safety and maintain evidentiary integrity.
Which container is MOST appropriate for storing soil samples collected from a crime scene?
Answer: Sealed glass jar or metal can
Glass jars or metal cans preserve volatile compounds in soil samples better than plastic, which can absorb or off-gas trace chemicals.
What temperature range is recommended for storing DNA reference samples for long-term preservation?
Answer: -20°C or lower (frozen)
DNA reference samples are stored at -20°C or lower to halt enzymatic degradation and preserve sample integrity for future analysis.
When storing digital evidence such as a hard drive, which environmental factor is most critical to control?
Answer: Static electricity and magnetic fields
Static electricity and magnetic fields can corrupt or erase data on digital storage media, making anti-static packaging and shielded storage essential.
An evidence technician discovers that a sealed package of drug evidence has been opened and resealed without documentation. This is BEST described as a:
Answer: Break in the chain of custody
Unauthorized opening and resealing without documentation constitutes a break in the chain of custody, which may render the evidence inadmissible.