Forensic specimens: 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 · Forensic specimens

Sample item

Which packaging method is preferred for damp biological clothing evidence after appropriate drying when feasible?

AAn unlabelled glass jar containing waterBA single sealed plastic bag while still wetCA shared cloth bag with unrelated samplesDSeparate breathable paper bags with clear labels

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Separate breathable paper bags with clear labels

Biological evidence should be dried when feasible and packaged separately in breathable labelled paper to reduce mould growth, cross-contamination, and chain-of-custody confusion.

Option by option

A. An unlabelled glass jar containing water
Water-filled unlabelled jars compromise sample integrity.
B. A single sealed plastic bag while still wet
Wet plastic packaging promotes degradation and mould.
C. A shared cloth bag with unrelated samples
Combining unrelated samples risks cross-contamination.
D. Separate breathable paper bags with clear labels (correct)
Correct: separate labelled paper packaging protects biological 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.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Separate breathable paper bags with clear labels. Biological evidence should be dried when feasible and packaged separately in breathable labelled paper to reduce mould growth, cross-contamination, and chain-of-custody confusion.

Why is "An unlabelled glass jar containing water" not the answer?

Water-filled unlabelled jars compromise sample integrity.

Why is "A single sealed plastic bag while still wet" not the answer?

Wet plastic packaging promotes degradation and mould.

Why is "A shared cloth bag with unrelated samples" not the answer?

Combining unrelated samples risks cross-contamination.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Forensic specimens in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: separate labelled paper packaging protects biological 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 Forensic specimens?

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.