What is the appropriate action if multiple dried stains are collected?

When multiple dried stains are collected, placing each stain in a separate envelope is crucial for maintaining the integrity and individuality of each sample. This practice ensures that the samples do not become contaminated with one another, allowing for accurate analysis and testing in a forensic context. Each stain may have different sources or characteristics, and isolating them helps forensic experts to properly analyze and identify their origins.

In forensic work, it’s also important to properly label each envelope with relevant information about the sample, such as the location it was found and any other pertinent identifiers. This meticulous approach to evidence collection is essential in criminal justice to uphold the chain of custody and to ensure that the analytical results hold up in legal proceedings.

The other options do not provide the necessary level of separation and care required for effective forensic analysis. Mixing stains or placing them into a single bag could lead to contamination or loss of important information about each individual sample, compromising the entire investigation. Using a plastic container could be suitable for certain types of evidence, but it would still not allow for the necessary separation of individual stains.