Evidence | Possible location of DNA o the evidence | Source of DNA |
Baseball bat | Handle | Skin cells, sweat, blood, tissue |
Hat, bandanna, or mask | Inside surfaces | Sweat, skin cells |
Eyeglasses | Nose or ear piece, lens | Sweat, skin cells |
Facial tissue, cotton swab | Surface | Mucus, blood, sweat, semen, saliva |
Dirty laundry | Surface | Blood, sweat, semen saliva |
Toothpick | Surface | Saliva |
Used cigarette | Cigarette butt (filter area) | Saliva |
Used stamp/envelope seal | Moistened area | Saliva |
Tape or ligature | Inside or outside surface | Skin cells, sweat, saliva |
Bottle, can, or glass | Mouthpiece, rim outer surface | Saliva, sweat, skin cells |
Used Condom | Inside/outside surface | Semen, vaginal or rectal blood |
Bed linens | Surface | Sweat, hair, semen, saliva, blood |
"Though and through" bullet | Outside surface | Blood, tissue |
Bite mark | Surface of Skin | Saliva |
Fingernail/partial fingernail | Scrapings | Blood, sweat, tissue, skin cells |
Note: When reviewing evidence, it is important to maintain chain of custody, consult with laboratory personnel, and take all appropriate precautions against contamination, including wearing gloves and changing them between handling of different pieces of evidence. |
Some or all of the content on this page was excerpted from the Special Report Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases, developed under an award from the Office of Justice Program's National Institute of Justice. See award product disclaimer.