Practice Test Geeks(ETC) Engineering Technician Certification Practice Test
← All ETC Flashcard Decks

Storage & Preservation Flashcards

7 cards from real ETC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Storage & Preservation flashcards as text

  1. Which packaging material is CONTRAINDICATED for storing arson evidence containing volatile accelerants?

    Answer: Plastic bags

    Plastic bags allow volatile accelerants to permeate through the bag walls, causing loss of evidence and potential cross-contamination.

  2. Under what circumstances should a wet item of clothing be stored in a paper bag rather than a plastic bag?

    Answer: When it is still moist and biological evidence may be present

    Wet clothing with biological evidence must be stored in paper (breathable) bags to allow moisture to evaporate and prevent mold that destroys DNA.

  3. What is the maximum recommended storage time for urine drug evidence samples at 4°C before analysis?

    Answer: 7 days

    Urine drug samples are generally stable at 4°C for up to 7 days; longer storage requires freezing to prevent bacterial growth and compound degradation.

  4. An evidence room log shows two items with identical property numbers. What is the BEST immediate action?

    Answer: Quarantine both items and initiate an audit

    Duplicate property numbers indicate a cataloging error; both items must be quarantined and audited to determine the correct association before any further action.

  5. Which type of evidence requires storage in a humidity-controlled environment to prevent cracking or warping?

    Answer: Wooden tool handles and document paper

    Wood and paper are hygroscopic materials that expand, crack, or warp with humidity fluctuations, which can alter tool mark patterns and obliterate handwriting impressions.

  6. A blood sample collected at a crime scene in a gray-top (sodium fluoride) tube is PRIMARILY used to preserve evidence related to:

    Answer: Alcohol and drug analysis

    Gray-top tubes contain sodium fluoride, a glycolytic inhibitor that prevents post-collection fermentation of glucose into alcohol, preserving blood alcohol evidence.

  7. When evidence must be transferred between jurisdictions, what document MUST accompany the physical evidence?

    Answer: An evidence transfer receipt signed by both parties

    An evidence transfer receipt signed by both the releasing and receiving parties documents the chain of custody during inter-jurisdictional transfers.