How is fiber evidence typically collected at a crime scene?

Fiber evidence is typically collected at a crime scene using sticky tape or specialized sampling tools because these methods are effective at capturing and preserving small, lightweight fibers that may be present in the environment. Sticky tape, for instance, can gently lift fibers from various surfaces without damaging them, ensuring that their characteristics are maintained for further analysis in a forensic laboratory. Specialized sampling tools, such as lint rollers or adhesive sheets, are designed specifically for this purpose, allowing forensic investigators to systematically collect fibers from a range of materials, including clothing, upholstery, and the surrounding environment.

Other methods, while they may have their own uses in forensic investigations, are not suitable for efficiently and effectively collecting fiber evidence. For example, metal detectors are primarily used for locating metal objects and would not aid in finding non-metallic fiber materials. Taking photographs of the area helps document the scene but does not provide physical evidence of fibers. Similarly, collecting soil samples can yield valuable forensic information, but it is unrelated to the specific collection of fiber evidence since soil and fibers belong to different categories of trace evidence.