OAR 137-140-0030
Safety, Contamination Prevention, and Security of Biological Evidence

(1)

Custodian personnel who routinely collect, retain, preserve, and catalogue biological evidence are encouraged to submit a DNA elimination standard to the Oregon State Police Forensic Services Division for DNA profiling in order to be ruled out as a possible source of contamination of a particular item of biological evidence.

(2)

Custodians collecting, retaining and preserving biological evidence should follow best scientific practices. Custodians should avoid:

(a)

Over-handling biological evidence in order to minimize loss of evidence and exposure to possible contaminants;

(b)

Touching the tips of collection swabs with any individual’s fingers or other items except the substrate from which a sample is to be taken;

(c)

Contaminating collection swabs by getting them dirty, talking over them, sneezing on them, or blowing on them to make samples dry faster;

(d)

Touching water droppers or other bottle tips to any surface or biological evidence;

(e)

Allowing tape edges of adhesive lift material from contacting any unclean or contaminated surfaces; and

(f)

Licking envelope seals.

(3)

Security. The security and integrity of collected biological evidence is the responsibility of the custodian and all personnel who may identify, collect, package, store, transport, or examine such evidence. Custodians shall keep all biological evidence in a secure, controlled-access area, protected from loss, damage, or contamination.

Source: Rule 137-140-0030 — Safety, Contamination Prevention, and Security of Biological Evidence, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=137-140-0030.

Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 137-140-0030’s source at or​.us