ABMDI Evidence Collection and Preservation 2

Question 1

Why should biological evidence (blood, tissue) be collected into paper bags rather than plastic bags?

Accepted Answer

Plastic traps moisture, promoting bacterial growth that degrades DNA and may cause mold contamination

Answer

Moisture trapped in plastic promotes bacterial growth and can degrade biological evidence. Paper bags allow air circulation, preserving the integrity of biological samples.

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of collecting a control sample at a death scene?

Accepted Answer

To identify background contamination at the scene that might confound laboratory analysis

Answer

Control samples (blank swabs or substrate controls) are collected to detect any pre-existing contamination at the scene that might affect the interpretation of evidence analysis.

Question 3

When collecting bloodstain pattern evidence at a scene, the MDI should prioritize:

Accepted Answer

Thorough photography and documentation before any collection or disturbance

Answer

Documentation through photography must occur before any collection begins to preserve the spatial and contextual information of bloodstain patterns.

Question 4

Vitreous humor is frequently collected for toxicological analysis during death investigations because:

Accepted Answer

It is relatively isolated and protected, making it less susceptible to redistribution and decomposition than blood

Answer

Vitreous humor is isolated in the eye and protected from postmortem redistribution of drugs, providing more reliable drug and alcohol concentrations than blood in advanced postmortem intervals.

Question 5

What is the appropriate way to package and preserve a firearm collected at a death scene?

Accepted Answer

Document, render safe if loaded, photograph in place, then package in a paper bag with a label noting LOADED if applicable

Answer

Firearms must be documented in place, safely rendered unloaded by qualified personnel, photographed, and packaged in paper bags with appropriate labels including loaded status.

ABMDI - American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators Practice Test

ABMDI - American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators Practice Test

ABMDI Evidence Collection and Preservation 2