Standard Operating Protocol for Identification, Collection, Packaging, Storage, Transportation, and Reception of the Forensic Samples in the Laboratory

The initial stages of forensic evidence collection can be pivotal to the success of criminal investigations. The methods employed in the recognition, collection and preservation of forensic samples have been rigorously scrutinized and challenged in the court of law. Application of latest scientific tools and techniques at the time of crime scene investigation, maintaining integrity of the physical evidences, safe collection, packaging, preservation in police station under a very low temperature to resist the degradation of biological samples and their safe transportation to Forensic Science Laboratory examination of these samples in ambient cold environment is the demand of time so that authentic results can be obtained from the examination which will further help in providing justice to the victims, apprehending the real culprit on the basis of authentic opinion thus obtained from the forensic samples. If cold chain and proper storage media is not adopted then it severely affects the possibility of obtaining conclusive results. To establish this confidence, all handlers of biological evidence should follow well-defined protocol for its optimal preservation.