ASTM E1459-13

Standard Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related Documentation

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 By following the procedures specified in this guide, any item of physical evidence will have a traceable audit trail by which the origin, past history, treatment, and analysis of the item can be determined.  
4.2 By following these procedures, the chain of custody of any item of physical evidence will be maintained and documented.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes methods to be used for labeling physical evidence collected during field investigations; received in a forensic laboratory; or isolated, generated, or prepared from items submitted for laboratory examination.  
1.2 Many types of physical evidence may be hazardous. It is assumed that personnel assigned to the collection, packaging, storing, or analysis of physical evidence will take precautions as appropriate to the evidence.  
1.3 This guide offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This standard cannot replace knowledge, skill, or ability acquired through appropriate education, training, and experience and should be used in conjunction with sound professional judgment.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Feb-2013
• ICS: 01.140.20 - Information sciences
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.11 - Interdisciplinary Forensic Science Standards

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E1459-92(2005) - Standard Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related Documentation
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E2451-21 - Standard Practice for Preserving Ignitable Liquids and Ignitable Liquid Residue Extracts from Fire Debris Samples
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E860-22 - Standard Practice for Examining and Preparing Items That Are or May Become Involved in Criminal or Civil Litigation
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E1386-23 - Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Solvent Extraction
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM G161-00(2018) - Standard Guide for Corrosion-Related Failure Analysis
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E1492-11(2017) - Standard Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E2228-23a - Standard Guide for Microscopical Examination of Textile Fibers
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E2125-19 - Standard Practice for Microcrystal Testing in Forensic Analysis for Phencyclidine and Its Analogues
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E3272-21 - Standard Guide for Collection of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for Criminal Forensic Applications
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E2327-15e1 - Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of Laboratories Performing Seized-Drug Analysis
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E3234-20 - Standard Practice for Forensic Paint Analysis Training Program
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM G145-08(2023) - Standard Guide for Studying Fire Incidents in Oxygen Systems
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E3175-22 - Standard Practice for Training in the Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E2224-23a - Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Fibers by Infrared Spectroscopy
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E2227-23e1 - Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Dyes in Textile Fibers by Thin-Layer Chromatography
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2013

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E1459 − 13
Standard Guide for
1
Physical Evidence Labeling and Related Documentation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1459; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4. Significance and Use
4.1 By following the procedures specified in this guide, any
1.1 This guide describes methods to be used for labeling
physical evidence collected during field investigations; re- item of physical evidence will have a traceable audit trail by
which the origin, past history, treatment, and analysis of the
ceived in a forensic laboratory; or isolated, generated, or
prepared from items submitted for laboratory examination. item can be determined.
4.2 By following these procedures, the chain of custody of
1.2 Many types of physical evidence may be hazardous. It is
any item of physical evidence will be maintained and docu-
assumed that personnel assigned to the collection, packaging,
mented.
storing, or analysis of physical evidence will take precautions
as appropriate to the evidence.
5. Marking Evidence Upon Original Collection
1.3 This guide offers a set of instructions for performing one
5.1 General Requirements:
or more specific operations. This standard cannot replace
5.1.1 See Practice E1188 for the collection and preservation
knowledge, skill, or ability acquired through appropriate
education, training, and experience and should be used in of items. Each item of evidence will be assigned a unique
numeric or alphanumeric designator by the investigator who
conjunction with sound professional judgment.
collects the evidence, or by someone designated to assign item
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
numbers. The system used should ensure that items cannot be
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
confused physically, and cannot be confused when referred to
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
in records or other documents.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
5.1.1.1 Similar evidence items may be collected as a group
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
and assigned a single designator (for example, remains of
fireworks paper collected within Sampling Quadrant 3, metal
2. Referenced Documents
shavings from under lathe, pieces of broken glass from around
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
northwest kitchen window, droplets of metal from area of
E1188 Practice for Collection and Preservation of Informa-
origin). Follow the guidelines in Section 6 if any portion of the
tion and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
item is isolated from the remainder of the group (like for
E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and
inspection, spot testing, or chemical analysis).
Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
5.1.2 Whenever possible, sequential identifiers will be used
for evidence associated with a particular incident, event, or
3. Summary of Practice
scene.
5.1.3 The location and condition of each item should be
3.1 Any individual item of evidence is marked with a
documented prior to collection.
numeric or alphanumeric designation that is unique and allows
5.1.4 Each item should be properly protected in an appro-
the origin of the item to be unequivocally established.
priate manner.
5.1.5 Each item or its proximal container shall be marked or
tagged with the following information:
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
5.1.5.1 Item number,
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplin-
ary Forensic Science Standards.
5.1.5.2 Case or incident number,
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2013. Published March 2013. Originally
5.1.5.3 Identification of person who collected item,
approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as E1459 – 92 (2005).
DOI: 10.1520/E1459-13. 5.1.5.4 Date item collected, and
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
5.1.5.5 Brief description.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.1.6 If possible, the evidence should be sealed in a tamper-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. evident container.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1459 − 13
5.1.7 See Practice E1492 for further information on pack- 6.2.1 The isolated sub-item should be appropriately pack-
aging and storing the evidence. aged and t
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E1459 − 92 (Reapproved 2005) E1459 − 13
Standard Guide for
1
Physical Evidence Labeling and Related Documentation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1459; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide describes methods to be used for labeling physical evidence collected during field investigations; received in a
forensic laboratory; or isolated, generated, or prepared from items submitted for laboratory examination.
1.2 Many types of physical evidence may be hazardous. It is assumed that personnel assigned to the collection, packaging,
storing, or analysis of physical evidence will take precautions as appropriate to the evidence.
1.3 This guide offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This standard cannot replace
knowledge, skill, or ability acquired through appropriate education, training, and experience and should be used in conjunction
with sound professional judgment.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E1188 Practice for Collection and Preservation of Information and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
3. Summary of Practice
3.1 Any individual item of evidence is marked with a numeric or alphanumeric designation that is unique and allows the origin
of the item to be unequivocally established.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 By following the procedures specified in this guide, any item of physical evidence will have a traceable audit trail by which
the origin, past history, treatment, and analysis of the item can be determined.
4.2 By following these procedures, the chain of custody of any item of physical evidence will be maintained and documented.
5. Marking Evidence Upon Original Collection
5.1 General Requirements:
5.1.1 See Practice E1188 for the collection and preservation of items. Each item of evidence will be assigned a unique numeric
or alphanumeric designator by the investigator who collects the evidence, or by someone designated to assign item numbers. The
system used should ensure that items cannot be confused physically, and cannot be confused when referred to in records or other
documents.
5.1.1.1 Similar evidence items may be collected as a group and assigned a single designator (for example, remains of fireworks
paper collected within Sampling Quadrant 3, metal shavings from under lathe, pieces of broken glass from around northwest
kitchen window, droplets of metal from area of origin). Follow the guidelines in Section 6 if any portion of the item is isolated
from the remainder of the group (like for inspection, spot testing, or chemical analysis).
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplinary Forensic
Science Standards.
Current edition approved May 1, 2005Feb. 15, 2013. Published September 2005 March 2013. Originally approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 19982005
as E1459 – 92 (1998).(2005). DOI: 10.1520/E1459-92R05.10.1520/E1459-13.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1459 − 13
5.1.2 Whenever possible, sequential numbersidentifiers will be used for evidence associated with a particular incident, event,
or scene.
5.1.3 The location and condition of each item should be documented prior to collection.
5.1.4 Each item should be properly protected in an appropriate manner.
5.1.5 Each item should be properly protected in an appropriate manner and or its proximal container shall be marked or tagged
with the following in
...