Sampling and Handling Techniques

General Principles in sampling and handling of samples:

A. Sufficiency of Samples

Most analytical test only requires a small amount of sample

How much or how little will depend on the classification of the crime and the type of evidence
to be collected

B. Standard for comparison

This serves as BLANK when the sample is analyzed
What will be considered significant will be significant will be the difference between the
standard and the sample
C. Maintenance of Individuality
When collecting samples, each evidence must be separate piece
One piece of evidence must be packed in a separate container
D. Labeling and Sealing
Labelling-prevents mixing-up of samples
Sealing-will discourage and eliminate the possibility of tampering and preserves the value of
the evidence
Evidence has to be labeled properly by the following in order to identify what it is, its source,
person responsible for collecting, the date and time it was collected and if there is a case
number.
E. Chain of Custody
Refers to handling and safe-keeping of evidence
All pieces gathered at crime scene are turned over to the evidence custodian.
Evidence to be tested has to be turned over to the custody of the Forensic Laboratory.
The forensic Laboratory records all received as well as released evidence in an official
logbook of evidence.
All other pieces of evidence are kept in the evidence room.
Explosives and flammable evidence are photographed after the examination and then turned
over to the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit(EODU).
F. The identifying tag
Should contain the following info:
o Signature and Identification of all the persons involved in the transport, storage and
analysis of the evidence
Analytical Methods can be categorized into two:
1. Destructive Analytical Method
Involve taking of sample from the object of interest
The act of taking a sample from the object somehow injures or diminishes the object
Ex. Spectroscopic Techniques
2. Non-destructive Analytical Method
Conserves the integrity of the object and is generally preferred by forensic examiners
Sample Evidences:
BODY FLUIDS

Are the most important evidence

Can be tested to establish whether a person is involved in a crime or not
Includes: Blood, Semen, Saliva, Sweat and Urine

1. Blood & Bloodstains

-before collection, the investigator must make a precise description of patterns and extent of
spatters noted in the crime scene
-close-up and scaled photographs of the blood stains should be taken.

-Blood samples that may be encountered are:

Fresh blood
Dried blood
Bloodstains
a. Liquid Blood
-Blood in liquid pools should be:
picked up on a gauze pad or other clean sterile cotton cloth and allowed to dry
thoroughly, at room temperature.
after drying, should be refrigerated as soon as possible and brought to the
laboratory as soon as possible.
-Delay beyond 48 hours my make the samples useless.
-Do not heat stained materials or place in a brown paper bag or box and seal and label.
-DO NOT USE PLASTIC CONTAINERS.
b. Dried Blood Stains
-On clothing:

If possible, wrap the item in clean paper, place the item in a brown paper bag or
box and seal and label container
Do not remove the stains from the cloth.

-On small solid object:

Send the whole stained object to the laboratory.

-On Large solid objects:

Cover the stained area with clean paper and seal the edges with tape to
prevent loss or contamination.

-If not practicable, you may scrape directly into the evidence envelop using a clean and dry
spatula.

2. Saliva
-Saliva are oral fluids that are produced by the salivary glands.
-These contains enzymes, microorganisms and could contain traces of drugs, alcohol and
food left in the mouth.
-It also contains a rich supply of cells that can be used in DNA testing.
-It should be treated the way blood evidence is treated.
On clothing:
-It must be air-dried before packing.
In liquid form:
-It must be placed in an appropriate container, sealed to prevent tampering, labeled and
submitted for processing asap.
3. Semen and seminal stain
-are associated with crimes against persons especially rape.
-Since traces of this type of evidence are easily washed away, it is imperative that the
suspect and the suspected apparel be seized immediately.
-Fresh specimen must be preserved by 10% formalin (preparation: 1mL of Formalin in 10 mL
of distilled water)

-Semen stains should be air-dried and be kept inside a paper bag

-Do not fold or roll over semen-stained areas and ensure that there is no friction against the
stain.
-To protect the stain from friction, cover it with a piece of clean paper before it is packed.
4. Sweat
-Found in very small amounts adhering in clothing
-Same precautions is applied as blood and saliva evidence.
5. Urine
-relatively easy to obtain and the easiest to tamper with.
-Always supervise the sampling.
-Collect urine samples into clean vials provided for the said purpose.
-Label the vials as to source date and time collected and other pertinent information.

EXPLOSIVES AND INCENDIARIES

In cases involving explosions, first and foremost is to ensure the safety of the investigators
before they enter the crime scene and perform their task.
Extreme care is needed to be able to retrieve evidence and search for bombs.
When large volume of debris is involved, there is a possibility that a significant amount has been
washed away when responders doused the fire. The difficulty of gathering evidence from such
occurrence poses challenges to investigators.
Arsons and explosive debris are gathered and preserved as follows:
1. Explosive Debris, Explosive substances and devices
-There is danger that not all explosive material has been detonated.
-Only trained investigators should handle such.
-Effort to locate are subject to standard procedures such as use of trained dogs.
2. Arson Debris
-Can be:
Glass
Wood
Fabric
Concrete
Foreign objects
Suspected flammable liquids
-When encountered, they should be collected and packed separately.
FABRICS
-can yield significant information that could lead to a solution of a case.
-It could link a suspect to a crime or help develop an airtight case against the least expected person
in a crime
-It is never a good practice to disregard any piece of material found in the crime scene, no matter
how insignificant it may seem at the time.

The ff precautions should be observed in collecting and preserving evidence:

1. Large Articles
-Do not remove any large materials from the positions that you have discovered them until
AFTER proper documentation has been done by photographing and by sketching.
-Wet surfaces have to be air-dried before packing.
-If evidence is too large into the evidence bag, it may be necessary to fold it. When doing so,
take care that the ripped edges of the fabric are folded in in order not to alter its pattern.
-If cutting the fabric has to be resorted to, ensure to preserve areas that will be material to the
investigation such as bullet holes or wound areas. Cut but never tear or stretch fabrics.
-Large articles such as pillows, cushions, upholstered chairs, sofas are packed into large crates or
boxes.
-Put the evidence collected in the evidence bag. Mark with initials, the date and an exhibit
number.
-If possible, collect a comparison standard.
2. Small Articles
-Requires greater attentiveness to details as these could occur in amounts that could miss the
eye.
-Inspect the body of the victim for small articles that could have left by the perpetuator.
-If there was a struggle, these could be found in the victims mouth, feet or hands.
-If the victim was restrained, then the feet and the hand may bear evidence of small articles.
-If small articles are wet, follow the standard procedure of air-drying before packing. Make sure
these surfaces are covered with non-abrasive materials before sending.
-Do not fold small articles. Use containers that are large enough to prevent folding as folding
could alter the pattern of thread in the fabric.
-Exercise extra care when handling fabric impressions on paint, metal surfaces and putty in order
not to ruin or cause its deterioration.
-Fabric impressions are more fragile and must be packed separately.
-Fasten evidence bags/containers and mark with initials, the date and an exhibit number.
-Collect a comparison standard.
There are two types:
1. Fresh
2. Latent

FINGERPRINT

-Latent prints are fingerprints left at the crime of the scene and which can be accessed by
lighting using kits provided for the said purpose. Latent impressions, even if they are only partial
prints could significantly influence the course of a case could go.
-Even a partial print can be used to solve identities and may lead to the successful prosecution
of the subject.
-It is very important to take every effort to be able to lift prints, preserve and identify them.
-One characteristic of the fingerprint is they disintegrate very rapidly.
-It is a matter of first priority to be able to lift as many fingerprints as possible at the first
opportunity and to immediately send to the laboratory.

-When packing lifted fingerprints, exercise outmost care that they are protected from the
possibility of smudging or further deterioration.
The following precautions should be observed in obtaining, preserving and packing of
fingerprints for various surfaces:
1. On absorbent materials
-Do not handle materials with your bare hands
-Do not process the fingerprints unless you have necessary training to do so
-Protect the absorbent material from scratching or contact effacing.
-Put in a plastic bag. Mark the bag with initials, the date and an exhibit number.
-Collect standard fingerprints for comparison when possible. Standard fingerprints are those
gathered from individuals suspected to have connection to the crime.
2. On hard objects
Involves two steps:
Developing of latent prints
Lifting of the latent print
a. Developing of Latent Print
-For greasy and bloody prints, do not apply powder.
-Wet objects have to be air-dried before processing.
-Photograph visible latent prints before they are processed for developing.
-Blow or fan surfaces to remove dust and other foreign matter prior to processing.
-Transfer a small of powder on a clean piece of paper.
-Before applying powder on the fingerprint perform a control test on the suspected surface
away from the fingerprint. Apply different powders to determine which one to use.
-Hold the brush handle between your palms and make a rolling motion. This would spread the
hair of the brush bristles.
-Dip the brush into the powder. Tap slightly to remove excess powder.
-Hold the brush bristles a few centimeters above the fingerprint and slowly lower in a swirling
or circular motion barely touching the surface but just allowing the powder to fall over the
fingerprint.
- When an initial impression appears, brush over the impression two or more times and then
tap off excess powder on and around the prints.
b. Lifting of latent prints
-Obtain a roll of lifting tape. Carefully unwind.
-Do not smudge the adhesive portion of the tape throughout the procedure.
-Do not cut the tape.
-Hold the roll in one hand and the tape in the other. Place the end of the tape about inch in
front of the print.
-Firmly press the tape evenly over the print by sliding your thumb over it.
-Slowly remove the tape from the surface by pulling slowly until the tape is almost entirely clear
the surface.
-Cut off the section used and mount the lifted print on a crime scene evidence logbook.
-Mark fingerprint evidence collected, properly with your initials, the date, the location and have it
initialed by at least two other witnesses.

-Collect standard fingerprints, which were properly and legibly taken for comparison when
possible. Standard fingerprints are those gathered from individuals suspected to have connection
to the crime
3. On soft surfaces
-Exercise care when extracting surfaces from soft surfaces as they could break in the process
and therefore lose their value
-If the evidence permits, obtain as much excess material surrounding the impression in order not
to disturb or efface the impression.
-When the impression is lifted, secure the material on a stiff cardboard surface.
-Mark the cardboard surface with your initials, the date, exhibit number and other important
information.
-Cover the impression with a concave material that will ensure that the fingerprint impression
does not come in contact with the packaging or does not break during transit.
-Collect a comparison standard. Submit the fingerprint impressions to the laboratory in the
condition it was found.
4. On skin
-Occasionally, fingerprints may be left on a victims skin especially they have been forcefully
gripped or held down forcefully during struggle. Fingerprints on this condition deteriorate rapidly
and so must be collected as soon as possible. Methods like dusting, chemical, electronic or
photographic techniques are employed for this type of impressions. Do not wash the skin prior to
processing of the fingerprints.
-Collect a comparison standard. Gather and identify the fingerprints of the subject and the victim
and those who touched any object under investigation to serve as control samples.
-Put the fingerprint evidence in an envelope and fasten. Identify the evidence by marking the
envelope with your initials, the date, and exhibit number.

FIREARMS AND AMMUNITIONS

When firearms are involved, investigators are expected to collect any of the following evidence
in the crime scene: firearms, fired bullets, fired cartridge cases, fired paper shot shells, shot
pellets, shot wads fabric with gunshot residue and bullet holes

FOOD AND DRUG SPECIMENS

Food specimens are encountered in cases of poisoning.
Drug specimens are encountered in cases of Drug Use and Abuse.

GLASS
Glass fragment especially large ones can contain hidden fingerprints.
Always wear surgical gloves so as not to contaminate evidence.
Take photographs of the glass fragment patterns before attempting to move them and process
for fingerprint or any residue.
Glass fragments that are small and found on shoes and clothing are classified as trace evidence
and should be collected and packed separately from large fragments.
Standards for comparison must be collected if the window is small, send the whole window to the
laboratory. If too large, recover several samples from different areas of the window