MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

Why is air-drying a wet shirt important before packaging?

1. To maintain evidentiary value of blood

2. To reduce weight for transport

3. To prevent odor during storage

4. To ensure proper folding

The correct answer is: To maintain evidentiary value of blood

Air-drying a wet shirt is crucial for maintaining the evidentiary value of blood or other biological materials present on the fabric. When a shirt is wet, moisture can alter the condition of the stains, potentially leading to degradation of DNA or other forensic evidence that could be vital in an investigation. Properly air-drying the item helps to preserve these biological materials in their original state, which is essential for accurate forensic analysis and potential use in criminal proceedings. While the other options seem reasonable, they do not address the primary concern in the context of evidence handling. Reducing weight for transport and preventing odor during storage are considerations that may come into play, but they are secondary to the critical need to preserve the integrity of the evidence. Similarly, ensuring proper folding could be helpful for storage convenience but does not impact the forensic value of the materials on the shirt. The main priority in this context is the preservation of critical evidence, which is best achieved through proper air-drying techniques.