FSC100: The Real CSI Final Exam
Questions with All Correct Answers
2026 Updated.
what could be physical evidence? - Answer objects that can:
- establish that a crime has been committed
- make associations (crime to victim, victim to perpetrator)
recognition - Answer - of not just what but where
- situation of items relative to each other
where to start searching - Answer consider paths of contamination from:
- perpetrator activity
- first responders
- emergency response
- look out for media interference
how do you search a crime scene? - Answer - lane/strip search
- line search
- circle/spiral search
- zone search
what are some other search tools? - Answer canine units
metal detectors
heavy machinery
thermal imaging
ground penetrating radar
search method is based on factors such as: - Answer - indoor/outdoor
- size
- urgency
- lighting available
- what is being searched for
- what evidence was already found
,- concentration of material
- people available
lane/strip search - Answer good for large areas
good for uneven terrain
line search limit - Answer must remain in a super straight line with everyone else as you
move across crime scene, at the same pace
circle/spiral search benefits - Answer good for locating additional items associated to an
existing piece of evidence
typically done indoors - too difficult to do outdoors
circle/spiral limits - Answer difficult to stay in a perfect spiral path to ensure nothing is missed
zone search benefits - Answer good for where other patterns won't work - typically in a
house divided by rooms - used where scene is already broken up into zones
how is evidence collection selective? - Answer - selectivity is determined by collector
- need knowledge about crime lab techniques, capabilities, limitations
- lack of this knowledge can lead to evidence being overlooked or collected improperly
why do you need a reference sample? - Answer to compare unknown samples to it
control/known samples include: - Answer - standard/reference - ex. hair/blood/DNA
- substrate control - ex. oil, carpet
- elimination samples
how do you prevent contamination? - Answer - use proper PPE
- clean tools between collection of different samples
- change gloves frequently
- package items separately to avoid cross contamination
things that are commonly used to collect evidence - Answer - plastic pill bottles
- manila envelopes
- tinfoil 'boats'
, - cardboard pillboxes
- sealable plastic bags
- paper bags of various sizes
what is the druggist's fold used for? - Answer to collect trace evidence
what do you do with wet or bloodstained materials? - Answer air dry them before packaging
and/or place into paper bags so they have room to breathe and dry off
what should be done with items soiled with biological fluid that cannot be dried? - Answer
should be placed in a cooler with ice packs
how do you seal packaged evidence? - Answer with tamper-proof tape, then initial the seal
how do you document evidence? - Answer - case number
- item number
- location
- name of collector
- date and time of discovery
- date and time of collection
- description of item
why might a sample not be submitted for analysis? - Answer - item type has low success
rate/expectation of obtaining reliable results
- not the most relevant to address allegations
- no probative value
- an individual is already associated with the item
- item has previously been tested for body fluids or fingerprints
sequential processing - Answer use of as many developmental techniques as necessary to
process a piece of latent evidence, applying least invasive to most invasive
what are the systems in place to prioritize samples/cases? - Answer - severity of offense
- type of evidence
- probative value of evidence
- urgency/risks to public
Questions with All Correct Answers
2026 Updated.
what could be physical evidence? - Answer objects that can:
- establish that a crime has been committed
- make associations (crime to victim, victim to perpetrator)
recognition - Answer - of not just what but where
- situation of items relative to each other
where to start searching - Answer consider paths of contamination from:
- perpetrator activity
- first responders
- emergency response
- look out for media interference
how do you search a crime scene? - Answer - lane/strip search
- line search
- circle/spiral search
- zone search
what are some other search tools? - Answer canine units
metal detectors
heavy machinery
thermal imaging
ground penetrating radar
search method is based on factors such as: - Answer - indoor/outdoor
- size
- urgency
- lighting available
- what is being searched for
- what evidence was already found
,- concentration of material
- people available
lane/strip search - Answer good for large areas
good for uneven terrain
line search limit - Answer must remain in a super straight line with everyone else as you
move across crime scene, at the same pace
circle/spiral search benefits - Answer good for locating additional items associated to an
existing piece of evidence
typically done indoors - too difficult to do outdoors
circle/spiral limits - Answer difficult to stay in a perfect spiral path to ensure nothing is missed
zone search benefits - Answer good for where other patterns won't work - typically in a
house divided by rooms - used where scene is already broken up into zones
how is evidence collection selective? - Answer - selectivity is determined by collector
- need knowledge about crime lab techniques, capabilities, limitations
- lack of this knowledge can lead to evidence being overlooked or collected improperly
why do you need a reference sample? - Answer to compare unknown samples to it
control/known samples include: - Answer - standard/reference - ex. hair/blood/DNA
- substrate control - ex. oil, carpet
- elimination samples
how do you prevent contamination? - Answer - use proper PPE
- clean tools between collection of different samples
- change gloves frequently
- package items separately to avoid cross contamination
things that are commonly used to collect evidence - Answer - plastic pill bottles
- manila envelopes
- tinfoil 'boats'
, - cardboard pillboxes
- sealable plastic bags
- paper bags of various sizes
what is the druggist's fold used for? - Answer to collect trace evidence
what do you do with wet or bloodstained materials? - Answer air dry them before packaging
and/or place into paper bags so they have room to breathe and dry off
what should be done with items soiled with biological fluid that cannot be dried? - Answer
should be placed in a cooler with ice packs
how do you seal packaged evidence? - Answer with tamper-proof tape, then initial the seal
how do you document evidence? - Answer - case number
- item number
- location
- name of collector
- date and time of discovery
- date and time of collection
- description of item
why might a sample not be submitted for analysis? - Answer - item type has low success
rate/expectation of obtaining reliable results
- not the most relevant to address allegations
- no probative value
- an individual is already associated with the item
- item has previously been tested for body fluids or fingerprints
sequential processing - Answer use of as many developmental techniques as necessary to
process a piece of latent evidence, applying least invasive to most invasive
what are the systems in place to prioritize samples/cases? - Answer - severity of offense
- type of evidence
- probative value of evidence
- urgency/risks to public
