Kit Shelf Life
Definition
The period during which an unused sealed SAFE kit remains usable, typically 2-5 years depending on the manufacturer and storage conditions. Expired kits are discarded because reagents in some components may fail.
- Typical range
- 2 to 5 years
- Applies to
- Unused, sealed SAFE kit
- Risk if expired
- Reagent components may fail
- Determinant
- Manufacturer specification and storage conditions
Common questions
Why is shelf life relevant to a sexual assault examination if physical collection swabs don't chemically expire?+
Some SAFE kit components, such as certain reagent-treated cards, adhesive seals, and preservative solutions, do degrade over time, and using an expired kit risks a failed or weakened result on any component that relies on chemical stability, so facilities track expiry dates on stored kits.
What should be done with an expired kit found in inventory?+
It should be removed from active use and discarded or returned per facility policy rather than used for an examination, since a chain-of-custody or evidentiary challenge could question results obtained from expired collection materials.
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...
- Double-Swab Technique
- A collection method for dried biological stains in which a moistened swab rehydrates and lifts the stain from the surface, followed immediately...
- Reference Sample
- A biological sample collected from a known individual (victim, suspect, or elimination source) for comparison against scene stains. Typically a buccal swab...
- SAFE Kit
- Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence kit. The standardised collection of containers and instructions used to gather biological and trace evidence from a sexual...
- Wet Evidence Drying
- The mandatory air-drying step for any wet biological sample before sealing. Sealing wet evidence traps moisture, promotes bacterial growth, and degrades DNA....