Evidence Room

The Evidence Room is responsible for receiving items of evidence from law enforcement agencies and routing those items within the laboratory as needed to complete analytical requests. Once examinations are complete, items are returned to the Evidence Room to return to the originating agency or as described in disposition information as communicated in official laboratory reports. All items are labeled utilizing barcodes and all records of evidence transfers are kept electronically in a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Employees in this section are called Evidence Technicians and are responsible for maintaining up-to-date and accurate chain of custody information and testifying in court when needed.

The DCI Laboratory’s Evidence Room processes approximately 30,000 items of evidence annually, accounting for approximately 14,000 cases. Periodic audits of items stored in the evidence room’s storage locations are performed to ensure the highest level of integrity for evidence submitted and stored in the laboratory.”

SEALING & PACKAGING

• All evidence coming into the DCI Lab must be PROPERLY SEALED.  The seal should be notated with at least the date you are sealing the evidence and your initials.  Please call the evidence room at 515.725.1512 with any questions about sealing up evidence.
• A seal is defined as a barrier that must be broken to open an item. The break in the barrier must be easily observed.
• Heat seals must have the date you are sealing the evidence and your initials written on the seal. 
• A staple is not considered a seal.
• If the contents are escaping the container, or if you can lift and replace the evidence tape without damage or alteration to the container or its seal, it is not considered sealed.
• Improperly sealed or packaged evidence received by mail will be documented with submitting agency notified. Evidence delivered in person will not be accepted until properly sealed. 
• An acceptable seal is one that prevents the ready escape of the evidence and will be clearly damaged or altered if broken to enter to package.  
• Some items of evidence (e.g. large bulky items, doors, etc.) may be submitted by only covering the area to be tested.
• Make sure that the evidence is clearly marked so that your agency ID listed on the evidence matches the pre-logged receipt form.

Additional Information:

Firearms: All firearms must be unloaded prior to mailing or submission to the lab. Live ammunition must be hand-carried to be submitted. If the case warrants leaving the cartridges in the weapon then it must be hand-delivered. The laboratory must be informed that a weapon is loaded. 

Hazardous Chemicals: Flammable and other hazardous chemical materials must be delivered in person.

Biohazards: All biohazards must be in a leak-proof container that will contain all contents and prevent leakage during handling, storage, and transport. 

Warning Labels: Note any warning on the package. For example: Biohazard, Hepatitis or HIV, Glass, Sharp, etc. on the internal packaging.

There should be no indication on the outside packaging when mailed that the package contains evidence (i.e., drug identification, firearms examination, etc.). Outside packaging must include the agency name and return address.

Sharps/Syringes: DO NOT SUBMIT SYRINGES TO THE LAB.

• Remove contents of syringe and place in an appropriate container for submission. Water may be needed to remove evidence from the syringe. If you have questions call the evidence room at 515.725.1512 or contact someone in the Drug Section.
• All sharps should be placed in a box, not a paper bag. Write “SHARP” or “Caution” on the box.

Evidence Delivery: Hand-carried, U.S. mailed, FedEx, UPS, or other couriers.  
Evidence may be delivered in person from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.

Evidence Submission: Regardless of the method of delivery all evidence must be pre-logged using the site below. 

• Users of the pre-log site must have a user ID and password. 
  • To obtain a user ID and password please e-mail the LIMS Admin staff or call the main laboratory number at 515.725.1500.
• DCI Laboratory reports are also obtained from the pre-log site.
• To expedite when picking up evidence, please call ahead at 515.725.1512 or email etechs@dps.state.ia.us.