ASTM E2998
Definition
Standard Guide for Sampling Improvised Explosive Devices and Post-Blast Debris for Explosive Residue Analysis. Specifies cotton swabs, isopropanol or methanol pre-wetting, swabbing technique, and blank swab requirements for energetic residue collection.
- Full title
- Sampling IEDs and post-blast debris for explosive residue
- Sampling material
- Cotton swabs
- Pre-wetting solvent
- Isopropanol or methanol
- Quality control
- Blank swab requirement
Common questions
Why does E2998 require blank swabs alongside the actual sampling swabs?+
A blank swab, handled identically but not applied to the debris, checks for contamination introduced by the swab material, solvent, or handling process itself, so any trace found on it can be subtracted from or used to flag a false positive on the real sample.
Why pre-wet the swab with isopropanol or methanol instead of using it dry?+
Pre-wetting improves the swab's ability to lift trace energetic residue particles off a debris surface compared to a dry swab, which is why the standard specifies a wetting solvent step before swabbing rather than leaving it optional.
Related terms
- Chain of Custody
- The documented chronological record of who collected, handled, transferred, and examined a piece of evidence. For digital evidence, chain of custody includes...
- Friction Lid
- The press-on metal lid used to seal evidence cans for fire debris. Seated by pressing firmly around the rim; allows field packaging...
- Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS)
- A field-deployable analytical technique that separates ions by their mobility in an electric field at atmospheric pressure. Used for trace explosive detection...
- LC-MS/MS
- Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The preferred confirmatory method for non-volatile organic explosives (PETN, RDX, TNT, NG) because it avoids...
- Mahazar
- The formal seizure list used in Indian criminal procedure (BNSS 2023) to document the collection of physical evidence at a scene. Prepared...
- Passive Headspace Concentration (PHC)
- ASTM E1412 extraction method. The sealed evidence container is heated at 60-80°C; volatilised hydrocarbons adsorb onto an activated charcoal strip suspended in...
- Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM)
- A GC-MS operating mode in which the mass spectrometer monitors only a set of pre-selected diagnostic m/z values, rather than scanning the...
- Tamper-Evident Sticker
- A self-adhesive label applied across the lid-rim or closure interface of an evidence container. Any disturbance of the container after sealing leaves...
- Unlined Metal Can
- The standard evidence container for fire debris analysis. 'Unlined' refers to the absence of internal plastic or epoxy coating, which would contribute...