Custody Gap
Definition
An unresolved gap in recorded possession or identity, with consequences requiring case-specific assessment. Its significance depends on what information is missing and what alternative explanations it permits. A custody problem and a temperature-handling problem are distinct, although both can affect an opinion.
- Context
- Evidence continuity
For example, an undocumented transfer and an unrecorded warm-storage period pose different questions about identity and analytical condition, even when both concern one vial.
Their consequences require the actual jurisdiction and case facts.
Related terms
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