What is the recommended procedure for handling biological evidence?

The recommended procedure for handling biological evidence includes changing gloves between every sample collected. This practice is crucial in maintaining the integrity of the evidence and preventing cross-contamination. When collecting biological evidence, such as blood, saliva, or other bodily fluids, even small traces of another sample on the gloves can lead to contamination, which may compromise the results of forensic analyses.

Changing gloves ensures that each sample remains as uncontaminated as possible, allowing forensic scientists to accurately analyze and link evidence back to a suspect or a crime scene. It reflects the standard protocols in crime scene management to preserve the validity of the investigation.

Storing samples at room temperature is not advisable for biological evidence, as it may cause degradation or promote bacterial growth. The temperature of biological samples can be crucial for maintaining their viability for testing. Similarly, using the same gloves throughout the collection process would risk contamination between samples. Recording the samples' temperature upon collection can be useful for monitoring evidence during processing but is not as critical as the procedure of changing gloves for contamination prevention.