When collecting hair evidence from a crime scene, what is the best method?

Collecting hair evidence from a crime scene is a crucial part of forensic investigation, and using fingers or tweezers is considered the best method because it allows for the careful and precise handling of the evidence. This method ensures that the integrity of the hair samples is maintained, minimizing the risk of contamination or damage that could occur with other collection methods.

Fingers and tweezers provide the necessary control to avoid disturbing the surrounding area and to ensure that all relevant characteristics of the hair sample are preserved. This includes the root, shaft, and any attached tissue that may provide valuable DNA information. Additionally, this method allows investigators to not only collect individual hairs but also to examine their color, texture, and other distinguishing features without causing unnecessary disturbance to the scene.

Using a vacuum, while potentially effective for collecting numerous hair samples, may inadvertently collect debris that could contaminate the evidence. Cutting hair into small pieces could lead to the loss of critical identifiers that are present only in the full strand. Leaving hair where it is found would prevent any analysis from being conducted, which would hinder the investigation.

Overall, handling hair with fingers or tweezers aligns with best practices in evidence collection, ensuring that forensic scientists have high-quality samples for examination and analysis.