American Board Of Criminalistics Hair
And Fiber Analysis Certification
Examination Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. What is the primary structural protein found in human hair?
A. Collagen
B. Keratin
C. Elastin
D. Keratinase
Keratin is the fibrous structural protein that forms the key component of
human hair, nails, and the outer layer of skin. Its strong disulfide bonding
gives hair durability and resistance to degradation, making it the principal
focus in microscopic and chemical hair analysis in forensic science.
2. Which part of the hair shaft contains pigment granules?
A. Cuticle
B. Medulla
C. Cortex
D. Follicle
The cortex is the thickest layer of the hair shaft and contains melanin
pigment granules responsible for hair color. Forensic examiners often
analyze pigment distribution in the cortex to compare hair samples and
assess racial or biological origin.
,3. The outermost layer of the hair shaft is called:
A. Cortex
B. Medulla
C. Cuticle
D. Root sheath
The cuticle consists of overlapping scale-like cells that protect the inner
structures of the hair. Its scale patterns are often examined under
microscopy to help distinguish species and sometimes individuals.
4. Which scale pattern is most common in human hair?
A. Spinous
B. Coronal
C. Imbricate
D. Lattice
Imbricate scales are flattened and overlapping like shingles on a roof and
are characteristic of human hair. This pattern helps differentiate human
hair from many animal hairs, which may show coronal or spinous
patterns.
5. The medulla in human hair is typically:
A. Continuous and wide
B. Always absent
C. Fragmented or absent
D. Pigment-rich only
In most human hairs, the medulla is either absent or fragmented, whereas
many animal hairs have a continuous medulla. This feature is important in
species identification in forensic hair analysis.
6. Which microscope is most commonly used for preliminary hair comparison?
A. Electron microscope
B. Phase contrast microscope
C. Comparison microscope
D. Fluorescence microscope
The comparison microscope allows side-by-side examination of questioned
, and known hair samples, enabling forensic analysts to identify similarities
or differences in structural characteristics.
7. What is the purpose of the root in hair analysis?
A. Always present for comparison
B. Contains cortex only
C. May indicate growth phase and DNA potential
D. Determines hair color
The root of a hair can indicate whether the hair was forcibly removed and
may contain follicular tissue useful for nuclear DNA analysis, especially if
the hair is in the anagen phase.
8. Which phase of hair growth is most useful for nuclear DNA extraction?
A. Catagen
B. Telogen
C. Anagen
D. Exogen
Anagen hairs are actively growing and contain a follicular root sheath rich
in nucleated cells, making them ideal for nuclear DNA profiling in forensic
investigations.
9. Which test is commonly used to identify fiber composition?
A. Blood typing
B. Crystal violet test
C. Burn test (preliminary)
D. Gram staining
The burn test provides preliminary information about fiber composition
based on odor, ash formation, and melting behavior, helping distinguish
natural from synthetic fibers.
10.Natural fibers are primarily composed of:
A. Polyesters
B. Polyamides
C. Cellulose or protein-based materials
D. Acrylic polymers
And Fiber Analysis Certification
Examination Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. What is the primary structural protein found in human hair?
A. Collagen
B. Keratin
C. Elastin
D. Keratinase
Keratin is the fibrous structural protein that forms the key component of
human hair, nails, and the outer layer of skin. Its strong disulfide bonding
gives hair durability and resistance to degradation, making it the principal
focus in microscopic and chemical hair analysis in forensic science.
2. Which part of the hair shaft contains pigment granules?
A. Cuticle
B. Medulla
C. Cortex
D. Follicle
The cortex is the thickest layer of the hair shaft and contains melanin
pigment granules responsible for hair color. Forensic examiners often
analyze pigment distribution in the cortex to compare hair samples and
assess racial or biological origin.
,3. The outermost layer of the hair shaft is called:
A. Cortex
B. Medulla
C. Cuticle
D. Root sheath
The cuticle consists of overlapping scale-like cells that protect the inner
structures of the hair. Its scale patterns are often examined under
microscopy to help distinguish species and sometimes individuals.
4. Which scale pattern is most common in human hair?
A. Spinous
B. Coronal
C. Imbricate
D. Lattice
Imbricate scales are flattened and overlapping like shingles on a roof and
are characteristic of human hair. This pattern helps differentiate human
hair from many animal hairs, which may show coronal or spinous
patterns.
5. The medulla in human hair is typically:
A. Continuous and wide
B. Always absent
C. Fragmented or absent
D. Pigment-rich only
In most human hairs, the medulla is either absent or fragmented, whereas
many animal hairs have a continuous medulla. This feature is important in
species identification in forensic hair analysis.
6. Which microscope is most commonly used for preliminary hair comparison?
A. Electron microscope
B. Phase contrast microscope
C. Comparison microscope
D. Fluorescence microscope
The comparison microscope allows side-by-side examination of questioned
, and known hair samples, enabling forensic analysts to identify similarities
or differences in structural characteristics.
7. What is the purpose of the root in hair analysis?
A. Always present for comparison
B. Contains cortex only
C. May indicate growth phase and DNA potential
D. Determines hair color
The root of a hair can indicate whether the hair was forcibly removed and
may contain follicular tissue useful for nuclear DNA analysis, especially if
the hair is in the anagen phase.
8. Which phase of hair growth is most useful for nuclear DNA extraction?
A. Catagen
B. Telogen
C. Anagen
D. Exogen
Anagen hairs are actively growing and contain a follicular root sheath rich
in nucleated cells, making them ideal for nuclear DNA profiling in forensic
investigations.
9. Which test is commonly used to identify fiber composition?
A. Blood typing
B. Crystal violet test
C. Burn test (preliminary)
D. Gram staining
The burn test provides preliminary information about fiber composition
based on odor, ash formation, and melting behavior, helping distinguish
natural from synthetic fibers.
10.Natural fibers are primarily composed of:
A. Polyesters
B. Polyamides
C. Cellulose or protein-based materials
D. Acrylic polymers
