ABMDI PRACTICE REGISTRY TEST
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027 GRADED A+
ABMDI REGISTRY PRACTICE TEST
Questions 1–20
Question 1
What is the primary role of a medicolegal death investigator?
A. Determine criminal guilt at the scene
B. Investigate deaths within the jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner
C. Perform all forensic laboratory testing
D. Conduct the autopsy independently
Answer: B. Investigate deaths within the jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner
Explanation: Medicolegal death investigators investigate deaths that fall under medical
examiner or coroner jurisdiction, including suspicious, violent, unexplained, and unexpected
deaths.
Question 2
Which organization administers the Registry certification for medicolegal death investigators?
A. ABMDI
B. OSHA
C. FBI
D. CDC
Answer: A. ABMDI
Explanation: The American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) is the
professional certification board responsible for its Registry and Board Certification programs.
Question 3
,Upon arriving at a death scene, the investigator's first priority should generally be to:
A. Move the body
B. Collect all medications
C. Assess scene safety
D. Begin the external examination
Answer: C. Assess scene safety
Explanation: Personal and scene safety must be established before investigative activities begin.
Hazards can include weapons, fire, chemicals, biological hazards, unstable structures, and other
dangers.
Question 4
What is the primary purpose of securing a death scene?
A. Prevent unauthorized alteration or contamination of evidence
B. Allow witnesses to handle evidence
C. Permit unrestricted public access
D. Speed up removal of the body
Answer: A. Prevent unauthorized alteration or contamination of evidence
Explanation: Scene security preserves the original condition of the scene and helps protect
potential evidence from alteration, contamination, or loss.
Question 5
Which information is particularly important when documenting a death scene?
A. Only the decedent's name
B. Scene conditions, observations, evidence, and relevant circumstances
C. Only the estimated time of death
D. Only photographs of the body
Answer: B. Scene conditions, observations, evidence, and relevant circumstances
Explanation: A complete death investigation requires comprehensive documentation rather
than relying on one source of information.
,Question 6
What is the purpose of scene photography?
A. Replace written documentation
B. Create a permanent visual record of the scene and relevant findings
C. Determine criminal responsibility
D. Replace the autopsy
Answer: B. Create a permanent visual record of the scene and relevant findings
Explanation: Photographs document the condition, location, relationships, and physical
characteristics of the scene and evidence.
Question 7
Which photographic approach is generally useful at a death scene?
A. Only close-up photographs
B. Overall, midrange, and close-up views
C. Only photographs of investigators
D. Only photographs of the face
Answer: B. Overall, midrange, and close-up views
Explanation: A combination of views establishes the overall scene, relationships between
objects, and detailed characteristics of individual evidence.
Question 8
Why should investigators avoid unnecessarily moving objects at a death scene?
A. Movement can alter the original scene and affect evidence interpretation
B. Objects cannot be photographed
C. Movement always causes contamination
D. It prevents identification of the decedent
Answer: A. Movement can alter the original scene and affect evidence interpretation
Explanation: Maintaining the scene in its original condition is important for accurate
reconstruction and interpretation.
, Question 9
Which document is commonly used to establish a chronological record of investigative
activities?
A. Chain-of-custody record
B. Field notes or investigative report
C. Death certificate alone
D. Autopsy report alone
Answer: B. Field notes or investigative report
Explanation: Field notes and investigative reports document observations, actions, interviews,
evidence, and other investigative information.
Question 10
What is chain of custody?
A. A record documenting the control, transfer, and handling of evidence
B. A list of family members
C. A medical treatment record
D. A list of witnesses only
Answer: A. A record documenting the control, transfer, and handling of evidence
Explanation: Chain-of-custody documentation establishes accountability for evidence from
collection through subsequent transfers, examination, storage, or disposition.
Question 11
When collecting evidence, the investigator should:
A. Package all items together
B. Use appropriate packaging and identification procedures
C. Leave evidence unmarked
D. Allow family members to package it
Answer: B. Use appropriate packaging and identification procedures
Explanation: Proper collection, packaging, labeling, sealing, and documentation help preserve
evidence and maintain its integrity.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027 GRADED A+
ABMDI REGISTRY PRACTICE TEST
Questions 1–20
Question 1
What is the primary role of a medicolegal death investigator?
A. Determine criminal guilt at the scene
B. Investigate deaths within the jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner
C. Perform all forensic laboratory testing
D. Conduct the autopsy independently
Answer: B. Investigate deaths within the jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner
Explanation: Medicolegal death investigators investigate deaths that fall under medical
examiner or coroner jurisdiction, including suspicious, violent, unexplained, and unexpected
deaths.
Question 2
Which organization administers the Registry certification for medicolegal death investigators?
A. ABMDI
B. OSHA
C. FBI
D. CDC
Answer: A. ABMDI
Explanation: The American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) is the
professional certification board responsible for its Registry and Board Certification programs.
Question 3
,Upon arriving at a death scene, the investigator's first priority should generally be to:
A. Move the body
B. Collect all medications
C. Assess scene safety
D. Begin the external examination
Answer: C. Assess scene safety
Explanation: Personal and scene safety must be established before investigative activities begin.
Hazards can include weapons, fire, chemicals, biological hazards, unstable structures, and other
dangers.
Question 4
What is the primary purpose of securing a death scene?
A. Prevent unauthorized alteration or contamination of evidence
B. Allow witnesses to handle evidence
C. Permit unrestricted public access
D. Speed up removal of the body
Answer: A. Prevent unauthorized alteration or contamination of evidence
Explanation: Scene security preserves the original condition of the scene and helps protect
potential evidence from alteration, contamination, or loss.
Question 5
Which information is particularly important when documenting a death scene?
A. Only the decedent's name
B. Scene conditions, observations, evidence, and relevant circumstances
C. Only the estimated time of death
D. Only photographs of the body
Answer: B. Scene conditions, observations, evidence, and relevant circumstances
Explanation: A complete death investigation requires comprehensive documentation rather
than relying on one source of information.
,Question 6
What is the purpose of scene photography?
A. Replace written documentation
B. Create a permanent visual record of the scene and relevant findings
C. Determine criminal responsibility
D. Replace the autopsy
Answer: B. Create a permanent visual record of the scene and relevant findings
Explanation: Photographs document the condition, location, relationships, and physical
characteristics of the scene and evidence.
Question 7
Which photographic approach is generally useful at a death scene?
A. Only close-up photographs
B. Overall, midrange, and close-up views
C. Only photographs of investigators
D. Only photographs of the face
Answer: B. Overall, midrange, and close-up views
Explanation: A combination of views establishes the overall scene, relationships between
objects, and detailed characteristics of individual evidence.
Question 8
Why should investigators avoid unnecessarily moving objects at a death scene?
A. Movement can alter the original scene and affect evidence interpretation
B. Objects cannot be photographed
C. Movement always causes contamination
D. It prevents identification of the decedent
Answer: A. Movement can alter the original scene and affect evidence interpretation
Explanation: Maintaining the scene in its original condition is important for accurate
reconstruction and interpretation.
, Question 9
Which document is commonly used to establish a chronological record of investigative
activities?
A. Chain-of-custody record
B. Field notes or investigative report
C. Death certificate alone
D. Autopsy report alone
Answer: B. Field notes or investigative report
Explanation: Field notes and investigative reports document observations, actions, interviews,
evidence, and other investigative information.
Question 10
What is chain of custody?
A. A record documenting the control, transfer, and handling of evidence
B. A list of family members
C. A medical treatment record
D. A list of witnesses only
Answer: A. A record documenting the control, transfer, and handling of evidence
Explanation: Chain-of-custody documentation establishes accountability for evidence from
collection through subsequent transfers, examination, storage, or disposition.
Question 11
When collecting evidence, the investigator should:
A. Package all items together
B. Use appropriate packaging and identification procedures
C. Leave evidence unmarked
D. Allow family members to package it
Answer: B. Use appropriate packaging and identification procedures
Explanation: Proper collection, packaging, labeling, sealing, and documentation help preserve
evidence and maintain its integrity.
