Forensic DNA Testing

Part of the reason DNA evidence is so useful is because DNA is inside every part of the body including:

• Hair strands or follicles
• Blood and bodily fluids including sweat, saliva, mucus, etc.
• Fingernails, skin cells and bones

Such samples are often found on:

• Clothing, including socks, sweatshirts, underwear and hats.
• Bed sheets or bath towels
• Discarded tissues, condoms, bandages, cigarette butts, etc.
• Drinking glasses and silverware
• Abandoned weapons, tape, or gloves, and more.

Sweat, skin cells, blood, bodily fluid, and hair samples are often found at crime scenes. Samples are collected by swabbing or by preserving any item on which DNA could reside. In the past, law enforcement departments have been criticized for poorly handling evidence in investigations, which can have disastrous results. So, regardless of how robust forensic DNA testing becomes, the utmost care should always be taken to eliminate the possibility of human error.