- 1: Types of Evidence
- 2: Types of Crime Scenes
- 3: Evidence Collection
- Collection Priority
- Control Samples
- Reference Sample Collection
- Equipment
- Procedures
- Biological Evidence Packaging
- Blood and Body Fluid Collection
- Hair and Fiber
- Wet Stains on Absorbent Surfaces
- Special Situations
- Wet Stains on Nonabsorbent Surfaces
- Dry Stains on Absorbent Surfaces
- Dry Stains on Nonabsorbent Surfaces
- Collecting a Sample From a Smear
- Evidence Marking
- Packaging for Transport
- Chain of Custody
- Preserving Evidence
- Reporting
- Testifying
- Summary
- 04: CODIS
Collecting a Sample From a Smear
Home > 3. Evidence Collection > Collecting a Sample From a Smear
Collecting a sample from a smear is different from collecting from a thicker stain. Use the following procedure:
- Use a slightly moistened (with distilled water), sterile cotton swab and
concentrate the substance on the tip of the swab.
- Collect a control sample by swabbing unstained adjacent surface areas with
a sterile swab slightly moistened with distilled water.
- Use a slightly moistened swab and follow with a second dry swab for a perspiration smear.
- Allow the swabs to air-dry.
- Label and package evidentiary swabs and control swabs separately in envelopes or bindle paper.
Click here for a video demonstration of swabbing a smear.
