Firearms Analyst Training

Best Practices: Bloodborne Pathogens

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Body fluids and other human tissue found on firearm/toolmark evidence present a continuing health concern for investigators in personal crimes, such as shootings and stabbings.

This most often relates to pathogens present in or on:
Blood, bone, and other tissue deposited on fired bullets which have struck, passed through, or been recovered from shooting victims
Blood-soaked or stained clothing, or other items submitted for gunshot residue analysis and muzzle-to-target distance determinations
Bloody edged weapons, in effect "tools", used to cut through hard tissue such as bone and cartilage

Because the evidence of interest to firearm/toolmark examiners is also of interest to other examiners, investigators should insure that:

All items are air dried out of direct sunlight

to prevent degradation of blood evidence by the ultraviolet component of sunlight
to preclude decomposition and resulting interference with gunshot residue testing

Garments are carefully handled when removed from victims to avoid disturbing deposits or patterns of gunshot residues that might be present
Garments are packaged separately in unused paper bags to prevent inter-contamination from other clothing items, as well as contamination from other evidence items

Courtesy - Arrowhead Forensic

Biohazard warning labels should be affixed to
packaging containing a potentially infectious material. This procedure serves to warn all to avoid direct contact with the contents of the container, including:

crime scene personnel
investigative office staff
laboratory personnel
courtroom personnel

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