Has anyone ever come up with a better term? I watched a fire investigator having to answer an unusual amount of additional questions because the same he had labeled "comparison sample" came back positive. We, as investigators, know exactly what is meant, but those sitting on a jury do not. Because of the ways residue from a liquid can move around the scene, how can one ever be sure their "comparison sample with not be positive?

Jim Mazerat
Forensic Investigations Group