FDC Evidence Collection & Preservation 5

Question 1

During a mass disaster response, the MOST critical reason to maintain separate collection teams for victim remains versus reference samples from family members is:

Accepted Answer

To prevent cross-contamination that could lead to false kinship associations

Answer

If personnel or equipment contaminated with victim DNA also handle reference samples, spurious kinship matches could be produced, misidentifying remains.

Question 2

Which of the following would constitute a critical deviation requiring case documentation and supervisor notification under FBI QAS requirements during evidence examination?

Accepted Answer

Discovery that a sealed evidence package contained an item not listed on the submission form

Answer

An unlisted item in a sealed package raises chain of custody concerns requiring documentation and notification before any analysis proceeds.

Question 3

When using a presumptive test such as the Kastle-Meyer test in the field, a positive result means the analyst should:

Accepted Answer

Confirm human origin by collecting the sample for species-specific serology

Answer

Kastle-Meyer is a presumptive test for peroxidase activity that is not specific to blood or to humans, so a positive result warrants collection but not confirmation of blood origin.

Question 4

A forensic nurse examiner using a sexual assault evidence collection kit must complete kit collection within what FDA-recommended time window post-assault to maximize DNA evidence yield?

Accepted Answer

72 hours

Answer

National guidelines recommend completing sexual assault kit collection within 72 hours post-assault because biological evidence on external surfaces degrades and is lost rapidly beyond that window.

Question 5

To minimize analyst DNA contamination of evidence during extraction, laboratories require analysts to:

Accepted Answer

Change gloves between each evidence item and avoid talking or coughing over open tubes

Answer

Glove changes between items prevent cross-contamination, and avoiding respiratory exposure over open samples prevents shedding of the analyst's own epithelial cells or saliva.

(FDC) Forensic DNA Certification Practice Test

(FDC) Forensic DNA Certification Practice Test

FDC Evidence Collection & Preservation 5