Evidence handling: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Evidence handling

Sample item

Why is a documented chain of custody essential for forensic specimens?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. It records possession and transfer to support specimen integrity

A chain of custody documents who collected, sealed, transferred, received, and analyzed an exhibit, helping demonstrate that the specimen tested is the same one obtained and was protected from tampering or confusion.

Option by option

  • A. It guarantees a positive laboratory result

    Chain documentation cannot guarantee any particular laboratory result.

  • B. It determines the cause of death by itself

    Cause of death requires medical and investigative interpretation, not custody records alone.

  • C. It replaces secure packaging

    Secure packaging is still necessary alongside records.

  • D. It records possession and transfer to support specimen integrity (correct)

    Correct: documented transfers support identity and integrity of the evidence.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, It records possession and transfer to support specimen integrity. A chain of custody documents who collected, sealed, transferred, received, and analyzed an exhibit, helping demonstrate that the specimen tested is the same one obtained and was protected from tampering or confusion.

Why is "It guarantees a positive laboratory result" not the answer?

Chain documentation cannot guarantee any particular laboratory result.

Why is "It determines the cause of death by itself" not the answer?

Cause of death requires medical and investigative interpretation, not custody records alone.

Why is "It replaces secure packaging" not the answer?

Secure packaging is still necessary alongside records.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Evidence handling in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: documented transfers support identity and integrity of the evidence.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Evidence handling?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.