Precise Collection Techniques
Hand picking requires careful visual examination of objects, sometimes using magnifying glasses to spot tiny evidence like hairs, fibres, glass, soil, or paint. When you find something, it goes straight into appropriately sized packaging to prevent loss.
Swabbing demands precision - you apply the swab tip to sample areas, rotating once whilst applying moderate pressure. The entire swab surface must contact the object, but over-rotating can damage delicate evidence.
This technique excels at collecting touch DNA, fingerprints, cells, blood, and other bodily fluids that might be invisible to the naked eye. Proper swabbing can recover DNA from surfaces that suspects barely touched.
Remember: Each collection method serves specific evidence types - choosing the right technique can make or break a criminal investigation.