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.
Related terms
- Chain of custody
- The unbroken documentary trail of who held a sealed exhibit, when, and under what seal, from the moment of collection through analysis...
- Double-swab technique
- DNA collection method in which a wet swab is applied to the wound perimeter first to rehydrate and collect biological material, followed...
- Reference sample
- A biological specimen taken from the patient to establish their own DNA profile. A buccal swab or EDTA blood tube. Used by...
- 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....
Explained in
- The SAFE Kit: Components and Collection SequenceThe period during which an unused sealed SAFE kit remains usable, typically 2-5 years depending on the manufacturer and storage conditions. Expired kits are di...