American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Practice Exam

When packaging items for laboratory analysis, what is the best practice?

1. put all like items in the same package

2. clean biohazard materials before packaging

3. put all items from the same location in the same package

4. put all items in separate packages

The correct answer is: put all items in separate packages

The best practice for packaging items for laboratory analysis is to put all items in separate packages. This approach minimizes the risk of cross-contamination between different items, which can significantly compromise the integrity of the evidence and the results of laboratory analyses. Packaging items individually allows for more precise handling during transportation and processing, ensuring that the specific characteristics of each item are preserved. Moreover, separate packaging ensures that any biohazardous materials can be dealt with appropriately. Different items may require distinct handling protocols, and isolating them reduces the chance of contamination and preserves the forensic chain of custody. This practice is essential in maintaining the validity of forensic evidence, which is critical in medicolegal investigations. In contrast, grouping like items or those from the same location might lead to contamination and difficulties in tracking specific evidence, which can be detrimental to the investigative process. Cleaning biohazard materials before packaging might not always eliminate potential contaminants, and putting all like items together could compromise the ability to link evidence to specific circumstances or individuals. Hence, individual packaging remains the optimal choice to maintain the integrity of evidence during forensic analysis.