Section 1: Body Fluids Recovery
Scenario
Body fluids can be present at many crime scenes and they can be of critical importance to the identification of an offender and to the understanding of the circumstances of the incident. Knowing how to record and recover these fluids correctly is vital if the evidence is to maintain its integrity and be suitable for court.
The following questions will test your understanding of the recovery methods used and their importance. You should use in text referencing where appropriate.
1. What body fluids are most commonly found at crime scenes and how might they assist an investigation?
2. Swabbing is the most common technique used to recover body fluids, but how is this technique carried out? Consider equipment used (including PPE), the actual process of recovery, and the subsequent packaging and storage of the sample.
3. Considering your answer to question 2 above, why is it important for consistency to be applied across all forensic services carrying out this technique? In your answer consider how this consistency is governed and what is in place to ensure that correct practice is adhered to.
