Elimination Reference samples

A term used to describe a sample of known source taken for comparison purposes.

Example-An elimination sample is one of known source taken from a person who had lawful access to the crime scene (e.g., blood or cheek [buccal] swabs for DNA analysis, fingerprints from occupants, tire tread impressions from police vehicles, footwear impressions from emergency medical personnel) to be used for comparison with evidence of the same type.

A reference sample is material of a verifiable/documented source which, when compared with evidence of an unknown source, shows whether an association or linkage exists between an offender, crime scene and/or victim (e.g., a carpet cutting taken from a location suspected as the point of transfer for comparison with the fibers recovered from the suspect's shoes, a sample of paint removed from a suspect's vehicle to be compared with paint found on a victim's vehicle following an accident, or a sample of the suspect's and/or victim's blood submitted for comparison with a bloodstained shirt recovered as evidence).