Storage policies

Make sure storage policies maximize evidence preservation. Secure storage sites should be designated and storage requirements should be consistent across a jurisdiction. Storage requirements depend on what types of specimens are being collected and on jurisdictional policy. For example, kits without drawn blood or other wet evidence generally do not need to be refrigerated. Follow jurisdictional policy for refrigeration of drawn blood samples and other wet evidence. Dried blood samples on blood collection cards do not require refrigerated storage.).[1] Urine should be refrigerated or frozen when stored. Those involved in storing evidence should be educated regarding storage requirements.

Make sure jurisdictional policies are in place to address evidence storage in cases where patients are undecided about reporting. Finding adequate storage space for these kits is a challenge for many facilities and agencies (e.g., community-based or hospital examiner programs may lack the capacity for secure long-term storage of kits at their facilities). Local responders, particularly examiners, law enforcement representatives, and crime lab staff, should discuss and address these and related challenges and develop procedures that allow for the secure storage of these kits without revealing patients’ identity. Storing the evidence as long as necessary is the ideal (e.g., until the patient decides whether to report or until the jurisdiction’s statute of limitations for retaining evidence expires). However, due to lack of storage space, kits in some jurisdictions are stored for a limited period of time (e.g., 30, 60, or 90 days) and then destroyed if no report is made. If such a policy is implemented, it is important that patients are informed regarding the amount of time they have to decide to report and procedures for reporting. It is also critical that the period of time given to patients to decide allows them the chance to consider their decision thoroughly; 24 to 48 hours is not sufficient to make such a decision.
[1] The National Institute of Standards and Technology is conducting a 10-year project on DNA storage. Thus far, it confirms that refrigeration of dried DNA is generally unecessary.


Go to the Next Section: Evidence Integrity > Documentation of evidence

Download printer-friendly versions