title: Preservation and collection of biological evidence.
abstract: As the courts have placed greater emphasis on physical evidence during the past few decades, the initial stages of evidence examination have become increasingly important to the successful resolution of many criminal investigations. This emphasis on evidence collection and preservation is often manifested by many rigorous court challenges. This article reviews how the ability to introduce DNA test results in court is affected by methods used to recognize, document, collect, and preserve biological evidence.
authors.affiliation: CT Forensic Laboratory, Division of Scientific Services, Connecticut Department of Public Safety, Meriden, CT 06451, USA. joseph.sudol@po.state.ct.us
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ladd
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D004247:DNA