Step 1: Collection and Submission - Forensic Testing

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Submitting Samples: Instructions for Accuracy

Ensure your potentially one-of-a kind sample is collected, labeled and submitted properly. Choose from the list of sample collection instructions below.

Collecting Samples for Forensic Testing Sample Types
Special instructions Forensic collection kits Driving under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI)
Driving under the Influence of Drugs (DUID)
Probable Cause Forensic
Testing Forensic Urine Examinations
Forensic Hair Examinations
Postmortem Analysis Info Requirements
Postmortem Blood
Femoral Blood
Urine
Other Liquid Biological Samples Antemortem
Hematomas
Bile
Gall Bladder
Vitreous (Eye) Fluid
Gastric (Stomach) Contents
Solid Biological Samples Duodenal Contents
Contents of Other Portions of the Intestinal Tract
Nails
Liver, Kidney, Brain, Other Tissue
Injection Site
Hair
Special Cases Deaths During Hospitalization, Unusual Cases or General Unknown Cases

Collecting Samples for Forensic Testing

Special Instructions: In Forensic Cases, each specimen container must be individually labeled and sealed. A tamper-resistant seal should be placed on the container so as to prevent the potential for tampering. Appropriate history and chain of custody documentation should be included. Specimens should be packed securely to prevent breakage. The package should be forwarded by a certified (return receipt) service. For forensic specimens, it is especially important that the recommended specimen labeling instructions and recommended shipping instructions are followed. All specimens should be labeled as follows:  

  • Each test tube is accurately labeled with either the case number or another unique identifier that is consistent with information provided on the requisition form
  • Each test tube is accurately labeled with a description of the specimen type and source (e.g. femoral blood).

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Forensic Collection Kits: NMS Labs provides a variety of specimen Forensic Collection Kits that ensure specimen integrity. NMS Labs will accept specimens in any shipping package (collection kit, etc.); however, failure to meet forensic collection, identification and transport requirements may jeopardize the acceptance of analysis results as evidence for use in criminal, civil, judicial or administrative proceedings. Please include the chain of custody form(s) in the same shipment as the specimens. Enclose the form(s) in a separate plastic bag to prevent contamination.

NMS Labs INTEGRIKIT® and PROTECTIKIT® collection and shipping kits are designed for the collection and transport of blood, urine and hair specimens, in a manner which ensures chain of custody and preservation of specimen integrity. The INTEGRIKIT® and PROTECTIKIT® serve as guides to assure the proper collection of the required volume of blood, urine and hair for the process of screening and confirmation testing. The kits contain information on appropriate container types for specimen collection, a case history form, chain of custody documents and specimen integrity seals. A cold pack is provided in the kit where appropriate. A detailed protocol for use is enclosed within each kit. To order collection kits and supplies please call NMS Labs Forensic Services at 1-866-522-2216.

Kit Description
Driving under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI) & Driving under the Influence of Drugs (DUID) Kits For forensic Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and drug determinations, we recommend the use of our INTEGRIKIT® specimen collection kit. NMS Labs blood collection tubes contain both a preservative to prevent alcohol formation and an anticoagulant to avoid clotting.
Probable Cause Forensic Testing For industrial post-accident or post-incident testing, we recommend the submission of both an INTEGRIKIT® specimen collection kit for blood and an INTEGRIKIT® specimen collection kit for urine. As the presence of drugs and toxicants in any biological fluid is time-dependent, the two specimens offer the greatest opportunity for detection. If an NMS INTEGRIKIT® is not available, follow the routine Blood and Urine collection instructions.
Forensic Urine Examinations For any applications requiring forensically secure urine analyses, we recommend submission of an INTEGRIKIT® urine specimen collection kit. If an NMS INTEGRIKIT® is not available, follow the routine Urine collection instructions.
Forensic Hair Examinations For all applications requiring secure analyses of hair specimens, we recommend the use of an NMS PROTECTIKIT® hair collection kit designed to facilitate collection of hair specimens. Directions for two methods of hair collection are included within the kit. If an NMS PROTECTIKIT® hair collection kit is not available, see the instructions for hair collection listed elsewhere in this section under Non-Routine Solid Biological Specimens
Postmortem Specimen Collection
(see Postmortem Submission Process instructions here)
For all death investigations where forensically secured blood, urine and other biological specimen analyses are required, we recommend the submission of our Postmortem Specimen Collection Kit. Our Postmortem Analysis Requisition form, which accompanies the collection kit, is easy to use for recording case and collection information and specimen submission. The kit contains 1 Gray top tube, 1 Red top tube, 2 plastic vials, 2 specimen bottles, a ziplock bag for specimens with separate compartment for paperwork and kit shipping seals to ensure specimen integrity. Where appropriate, more than one kit may need to be submitted per case.

Postmortem Analysis

This section contains important instructions for preparing specimens for postmortem toxicological analysis. Following these guidelines will ensure the forensic integrity and security of the specimens. Generally, collection of specimens for postmortem investigations should comply with the directions for clinical specimens previously presented, with the exceptions noted below.

Postmortem Information Requirements: Unless requesting the BASIC and EXPANDED levels of postmortem toxicology testing, any and all information available on prescribed medications or drugs found at the scene, cause, manner, means, mode and circumstances of death, as well as autopsy findings are essential and required to facilitate tailoring the analyses to the actual case issues. If further relevant information becomes available, transmit it by fax or telephone to the NMS Labs Client Services.

 

Guidelines for Special Cases

Deaths During Hospitalization: In hospital death cases, it is very important to collect and preserve blood and other samples taken on admission, as well as specimens drawn during the hospital stay. These specimens, which may contain the highest concentrations of the causative agent(s), are often discarded soon after the patient is discharged or dies. Immediate collection and preservation of these specimens, with chain of custody, may be crucial in resolving the case. In addition, all medications administered in the hospital should be listed. Physical evidence including IV bags and lines, in-room biological waste containers, etc. should also be collected.

Please contact Client Services to arrange consultation should a hospital-related death appear to be suspicious in nature.

Unusual Cases or General Unknown Cases: Please call NMS Labs for an initial consultation with one of our forensic toxicologists prior to performing the autopsy, or before the body is unavailable for procurement of additional specimens. Our forensic toxicologists will assist you in determining the appropriate types and amounts of specimens. We will recommend container types, preservatives, storage and shipping procedures. We can also help determine what other physical evidence from the death scene should be collected for analysis.

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Materials Found at the Crime or Death Scene: Fully describe materials found at the crime or death scene and any materials believed to be involved (what, where, how much, etc.). If these substances are of unknown identity and a forensic analysis is needed, package them separately and send them to the laboratory with all available information. These materials may include (but are not limited to) pharmaceuticals, street dosage forms, drugs, syringes, liquids, botanicals and other suspicious, unidentified substances. These materials are sometimes overlooked, but later may be useful in resolving case issues. The Criminalistics Division of NMS Labs will analyze all materials found at the crime scene.

Please call Client Services for a description of services and fees for the Criminalistics Division of NMS Labs.

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Embalmed, Fixed or Decomposed Tissue: The analysis of (formalin) fixed, embalmed and/or severely decomposed specimens presents unique and difficult challenges to the laboratory. In some cases, special preparation and handling may be required that is considered to be beyond "normal". In such cases, additional surcharges may be imposed for these services. To determine if additional special preparation and handling is required, contact NMS Labs prior to sending these types of specimens.

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Formalin Fixed: In addition to the tissue(s), send at least 20 mL of the fixing solution. Toxicants in the tissues may leach into the solution.

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Embalmed Body: If the body has been embalmed (even partly) prior to the autopsy, send samples of all embalming materials (along with their names and compositions) separated from the autopsy specimens (preferably in a separate package).

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Postmortem Specimen Collection

For postmortem specimens, it is especially important that the recommended labeling and shipping requirements are followed. Postmortem specimens and cases are considered to be forensic in nature. Preservation of the chain of custody is of critical importance for all postmortem specimens.

Blood: Each blood specimen should be identified as to anatomic site of origin (e.g. femoral vein, left ventricle, etc.). NMS prefers to receive both heart and peripheral blood (e.g., femoral blood). If you suspect poisoning by fluoride, oxalate or potassium, collect at least 10 mL of blood without preservative and indicate the poisoning issue on the analysis requisition.

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Femoral Blood: Collect at least 10 mL femoral blood if available at the time of autopsy. Collect specimen, using a clean knife, by cutting off the iliac veins making sure to avoid the arteries. Before cutting, press the blood in the upper portion of the iliac veins. Cut and press the blood in the popliteal and femoral veins into the tube. The blood from both sides is pooled. Avoid the blood in the lower vena cava. Add potassium fluoride to a concentration of 1% or place blood specimen directly into a gray top Vacutainer® tube (or equivalent) containing a fluoride/oxalate preservative. This preservative will prevent alcohol formation and can slow the breakdown of drugs due to bacterial or enzymatic actions.

Blood samples drawn from peripherally located sources away from parenchymal tissues and organs will provide samples that are less likely to be subject to postmortem drug/chemical redistribution. Such redistribution may cause falsely elevated blood concentrations. This occurs to a very significant extent in heart, lung and other blood pools near major organ systems. Such blood pools are acceptable for screening purposes, but for most substances, quantitative confirmation should be performed in peripheral blood.

These specimens should NOT be frozen. Freezing blood in glass tubes can cause them to crack, releasing volatile substances that maybe present and compromising the integrity of the specimen.

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Urine: Collect up to 40 mL urine. Record the appearance, color, odor and total volume of urine in the bladder. Because most urine is translucent, wrap the container in foil to exclude light or use opaque plastic containers. This will protect against photo-decomposition of light sensitive substances such as phenothiazines and LSD. If the bladder is found empty, collect up to 5 g of the trimmed bladder.

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Other Liquid Biological Specimens

Antemortem Hematomas: Place each specimen in a separate container stating the location of hematoma and estimated age of the lesion. These instructions are especially important when death is delayed following trauma and it is necessary to determine the concentrations of toxic substances at and around the time of trauma infliction.

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Bile or Gall Bladder: Send up to 10 mL of bile or gall bladder contents in one container. If there is less than 3 mL bile, also send a portion of the gall bladder (approximately 3 g). Send bile in a tube without preservative (red top Vacutainer® tube or equivalent) or in a screw-capped plastic vial.

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Vitreous (Eye) Fluid: Collect vitreous from one eye and then wait 3 hours to collect vitreous from the other eye. Send vitreous fluid from each eye separately in screw-capped, foil-wrapped plastic vials. Vitreous fluid is translucent and needs light protection to prevent potential photo-decomposition of substances such as LSD and phenothiazines.

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Gastric (Stomach) Contents: The total amount, appearance (including recognizable constituents), color, and odor found during the initial examination should be noted. Intact tablets, capsules or other objects or materials should be packaged separately and identified as being found in stomach contents. Mix the remainder of the stomach contents and send up to 40 mL of a representative sample. If the stomach is "empty," trimmed portions of the stomach wall totaling up to 10 g may be analyzed.

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Solid Biological Specimens

Duodenal Contents: Note the appearance, color, odor, presence of tablets or other objects found in duodenal content separately. Collect up to 40 mL or grams of a representative sample noting the total amount, appearance, and odor as in "Gastric (Stomach) Contents" above.

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Contents of Other Portions of the Intestinal Tract: Those samples should be handled individually and similarly to the gastric or duodenal contents specimens noted above. Tying off and sending sections "sausage style" may also be acceptable.

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Nails: In postmortem cases, the entire (excised or pulled) nail should be submitted. Each nail should be harvested and packaged separately in individual plastic bottles or bags. Label each bottle with the mass of the nail collected and its source, e.g., right index finger.

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Liver, Kidney, Brain or Other Tissue Specimens: Send representative samplings of other tissue specimens (liver from suspected therapeutic medication overdoses, lung from suspected inhalation poisoning, etc.) Send approximately 10 g of each tissue specimen in separate containers, labeled with tissue type and anatomical site.

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Injection Sites: Excise the surrounding skin and subcutaneous tissue. Place each excised site in a separate container, identify the site from which the samples were taken, and note their age and appearance. Send syringes found at the death scene along with injectable drug vials, spoons, and other IV drug paraphernalia in separate individual containers to avoid cross-contamination.

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Hair: Hair is useful for drug use history and other toxicant or exposure determinations. Hair is also useful in cases of suspected chronic poisoning or remote acute poisoning that results in death.

There are two primary methods to collect hair samples – PROTECTIKIT® hair collection kit recommended.

Recommended method: Use an NMS Labs PROTECTIKIT® hair collection kit designed specifically to facilitate collection of hair specimens. Directions for use are included in the kit. For pricing and to order kits, please contact Forensic Client Services at 1-866-522-2216 or forensics@nmslabs.com.

Alternate Method: If an NMS PROTECTIKIT® hair collection kit is not available, head hair may be collected as follows:

  1. Along a line drawn across the middle of the back of the head from the center of one ear to the center of the other, gather a lock of hair at least the thickness of a finger, and tie it together near the root end (near the scalp) using a twist tie, small string or a rubber band.
  2. Cut the hair as close to the scalp as possible without cutting the scalp.
  3. Maintain the horizontal position of the hairs in the tied bundle by folding the cut section in paper.
  4. Indicate the root-end and tip-end by marking the paper with a permanent marker or with a paper label. Do not use tape directly on the hair.
  5. Place the specimen in a clean, dry, labeled paper envelope for shipment to the laboratory. 


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