ABMDI Certification Actual Exam Questions
and Answers with Rationales (2026) |
Verified | Guaranteed Success
• What are 3 categories of descriptors that can be used to describe livor
mortis? -✓✓Coloration: Pink - Purple discoloration
Location on the body
State of fixation: Fixed or Unfixed / Blanchable
• How should physical assessments of bodies occur. -✓✓Starting from
the head and working your way down, noting obvious trauma and trace
evidence.
• What considerations should be made when turning over a body during
physical assessment? -✓✓Ensure the body is turned over onto a clean
white sheet to mitigate the loss of any possible trace evidence.
Continue assessment of the posterior as was done to the anterior.
• What can be done to preserve physical evidence on hands or feet? -
✓✓A paper bag can be placed on the hands and feet after photographing.
• What considerations should be made prior to handling evidence? -
✓✓Do not handle evidence before obtaining fingerprints unless given
permission by the investigating officer in charge.
• What considerations should be made with personal property? -
✓✓Recognize, document and collect all items attached to the body.
,• What do bruises on the decedent's body indicate? -✓✓Bruises on the
body usually indicate that the person was alive at the time of injury
• What are 4 types of searches at a scene? -✓✓Spiral (circular search
pattern)
Radial (spoke-like search pattern)
Strip (linear search pattern)
Grid (cross linear search pattern)
• What are 2 basic measurement techniques for scene examinations? -
✓✓Coordinate method (uses a fixed point to measure distance from)
Triangulation method (uses 2 fixed points to measure distance from)
• Why may a tox draw be necessary at the scene? -✓✓Some drugs and
poisons may deteriorate or metabolize during the post mortem interval.
• What kinds of toxicology can be drawn from the scene? -✓✓Urine
Peripheral blood
Vitreous fluid
• What are the procedures for drawing urine at a scene? -✓✓Urine may
be recovered when bladder remains distended:
- Locate pubic bone in the midline of the lower abdomen
- Puncture skin approx 2 to 3 inches (toward the head) from the pubic
bone in the midline of the abdomen
, - Advance needle at 45 degree angle
- When bladder is punctured, urine will rapidly fill the syringe
• What sites can be used to draw peripheral blood? -✓✓Subclavian
Femoral
• What are the procedures for drawing subclavian peripheral blood at a
scene? -✓✓The subclavian site is the easiest to obtain peripheral blood
from.
Locate subclavian vein (runs just below the clavicle).
Insert needle under the clavicle at a 30 degree angle, aspirating gently
until blood fills the syringe.
• What are the procedures for drawing vitreous fluid at a scene? -
✓✓Obtained by puncturing the sclera
2.5 to 4.0 ml of fluid is drawn from each adult eye. (0.5 to 1.0 ml from
children)
• What is vitreous fluid useful for? -✓✓Useful for detecting presence of
alcohol, drugs and electrolytes.
• What needs to be done prior to an organ donation? -✓✓A medical
determination of brain death must be made.
Official clearance from the ME's office must be received.
The NOK must provide permission for the recovery of organs.
and Answers with Rationales (2026) |
Verified | Guaranteed Success
• What are 3 categories of descriptors that can be used to describe livor
mortis? -✓✓Coloration: Pink - Purple discoloration
Location on the body
State of fixation: Fixed or Unfixed / Blanchable
• How should physical assessments of bodies occur. -✓✓Starting from
the head and working your way down, noting obvious trauma and trace
evidence.
• What considerations should be made when turning over a body during
physical assessment? -✓✓Ensure the body is turned over onto a clean
white sheet to mitigate the loss of any possible trace evidence.
Continue assessment of the posterior as was done to the anterior.
• What can be done to preserve physical evidence on hands or feet? -
✓✓A paper bag can be placed on the hands and feet after photographing.
• What considerations should be made prior to handling evidence? -
✓✓Do not handle evidence before obtaining fingerprints unless given
permission by the investigating officer in charge.
• What considerations should be made with personal property? -
✓✓Recognize, document and collect all items attached to the body.
,• What do bruises on the decedent's body indicate? -✓✓Bruises on the
body usually indicate that the person was alive at the time of injury
• What are 4 types of searches at a scene? -✓✓Spiral (circular search
pattern)
Radial (spoke-like search pattern)
Strip (linear search pattern)
Grid (cross linear search pattern)
• What are 2 basic measurement techniques for scene examinations? -
✓✓Coordinate method (uses a fixed point to measure distance from)
Triangulation method (uses 2 fixed points to measure distance from)
• Why may a tox draw be necessary at the scene? -✓✓Some drugs and
poisons may deteriorate or metabolize during the post mortem interval.
• What kinds of toxicology can be drawn from the scene? -✓✓Urine
Peripheral blood
Vitreous fluid
• What are the procedures for drawing urine at a scene? -✓✓Urine may
be recovered when bladder remains distended:
- Locate pubic bone in the midline of the lower abdomen
- Puncture skin approx 2 to 3 inches (toward the head) from the pubic
bone in the midline of the abdomen
, - Advance needle at 45 degree angle
- When bladder is punctured, urine will rapidly fill the syringe
• What sites can be used to draw peripheral blood? -✓✓Subclavian
Femoral
• What are the procedures for drawing subclavian peripheral blood at a
scene? -✓✓The subclavian site is the easiest to obtain peripheral blood
from.
Locate subclavian vein (runs just below the clavicle).
Insert needle under the clavicle at a 30 degree angle, aspirating gently
until blood fills the syringe.
• What are the procedures for drawing vitreous fluid at a scene? -
✓✓Obtained by puncturing the sclera
2.5 to 4.0 ml of fluid is drawn from each adult eye. (0.5 to 1.0 ml from
children)
• What is vitreous fluid useful for? -✓✓Useful for detecting presence of
alcohol, drugs and electrolytes.
• What needs to be done prior to an organ donation? -✓✓A medical
determination of brain death must be made.
Official clearance from the ME's office must be received.
The NOK must provide permission for the recovery of organs.
