Forensics Exam TSA – Practice Test &
Forensic Science Study Guide 2025 2026
Autopsy - correct answersThe internal and external examination of a body after death.
An autopsy is performed to confirm or determine the cause of death and establish other
pre-death conditions, such as the type of food last consumed and the time it was
consumed.
Ballistics - correct answersThe study of the motion of bullets and their examination for
distinctive characteristics after being fired. Examiners can use this evidence to match
bullets or bullet fragments to specific weapons.
Blood Splatter - correct answersThe pattern of blood that has struck a surface. This
pattern can provide vital information about the source of the blood. Can help determine
the size and type of wound, the direction and the speed with which the perpetrator or
victim was moving, and the type of weapon used to create the blood spill.
Caliber - correct answersThe diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm, usually expressed
in hundredths of an inch or in millimeters.
Composite Drawing - correct answersA sketch of a suspect produced from eyewitness
descriptions of one or more persons.
Criminology - correct answersThe study of criminal activity and how it is dealt with by
the law.
DNA - correct answersDeoxyribonucleic acid. Double helix strand. Genetic code
(fingerprint). 50% from mom and 50% from dad. ACGT.
DNA Electrophoresis - correct answersThe technique by which DNA fragments are
placed in a gel and charged with electricity. An applied electric field then separates the
fragments by size, as part of the process of creating a genetic profile.
DNA Profiling - correct answersThe process of testing to identify DNA patterns or types.
In forensic science this testing is used to indicate parentage or to exclude or include
individuals as possible sources of bodily fluid stains (blood, saliva, semen) and other
biological evidence (bones, hair, teeth)
Evidence - correct answersAnything that has been used, left, removed, altered, or
contaminated during the commission of a crime or other event under investigation
Fingerprint - correct answersThe unique patterns created by skin ridges found on the
palm sides of fingers and thumbs.
,Forensic Science - correct answersThe application of science to law. The application of
science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a
criminal justice system. The focus of forensics is the crime lab. The crime lab uses the
principles and technique of biology, chemistry, physics, geology, anthropology, and
other sciences in order to place physical evidence into a professional discipline.
Absolute Certainty - correct answersultimate sureness with no implication of possible
change.
Accountability - correct answersthe quality of subordinate workers being responsible for
his/her own work and answerable to a superior.
Accuracy - correct answersthe degree of conformity of a measured quantity to its actual
(true) value.
Acetone - correct answersa colorless, highly flammable chemical compound used as an
organic solvent, an ingredient in many lacquer thinner compounds and adhering liquids.
Accelerant - correct answersan agent, often an ignitable liquid, that acts to initiate a fire
or increase its rate of spread.
Administrative documentation - correct answersrecords such as case related
conversations, evidence receipts, description of evidence packaging and seals, and
other pertinent information.
Administrative (or Laboratory Director) Case File Review - correct answersa detailed
final review of the case file documentation. A member other than the assigned analyst
must conduct the Laboratory Director case file review on all case files.
Algor mortis - correct answersthe postmortem cooling of the body.
Analytical Data - correct answersall case specific records such as notes, worksheets,
graphs, spectra, printouts, computer data files, photographs, photocopies, microscopic
slides and other data or records.
Analytical Procedure - correct answersan orderly step-by-step process designed to
ensure operational uniformity and to minimize systematic variability.
Analyst - correct answersany ADFS personnel assigned to perform scientific
investigation or evidential examination.
Ante mortem - preceding death Antigens - correct answersforeign substances in the
body that are capable of causing disease.
Arson - correct answersthe intentional and unlawful burning of a building or other
property.
, Assessment - correct answersthe process of evaluating analysts to determine their level
of technical knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Asphyxiation - correct answersa medical term for suffocation, which leads to lack of
oxygen in the blood.
Audit - correct answersa review conducted to compare the various aspects of the
laboratory's performance with a standard for that performance.
Back spatter - correct answersblood directed back toward the source of energy or force
that caused the spatter; often associated with entrance gunshot wounds.
Ballistics - correct answersbranch of physics that deals with the flights of projectiles.
Base pair - correct answerscombination of 2 nucleotides (A and T or G and C) held
together by weak hydrogen bonds; the DNA double helix is formed when a base pair of
nucleotides in the DNA strands are connected by these bonds.
Bile - correct answersa digestive fluid made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder
that helps digest fats.
Biology - the science that studies living organisms. - correct answers
Blind or Double-Blind Sample Technique - correct answersa type of proficiency testing
where the member is not aware that the sample/case under analysis is a quality
assessment sample.
Blood borne pathogens - correct answerspathogenic microorganisms in blood or other
body fluids that can cause disease in people. These pathogens include, but are not
limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in all of its
forms.
Bloodstain - correct answerstransfer resulting when liquid blood comes into contact with
a surface.
Calibration - correct answersthe set of operations which establish, under specified
conditions, the relationship between values indicated by a measuring instrument or
measuring system, or values represented by a material, and the corresponding known
values of a measurement.
Case File - the hard copy case folder which contains all or part of the documentation
forming the case record. - correct answers
Forensic Science Study Guide 2025 2026
Autopsy - correct answersThe internal and external examination of a body after death.
An autopsy is performed to confirm or determine the cause of death and establish other
pre-death conditions, such as the type of food last consumed and the time it was
consumed.
Ballistics - correct answersThe study of the motion of bullets and their examination for
distinctive characteristics after being fired. Examiners can use this evidence to match
bullets or bullet fragments to specific weapons.
Blood Splatter - correct answersThe pattern of blood that has struck a surface. This
pattern can provide vital information about the source of the blood. Can help determine
the size and type of wound, the direction and the speed with which the perpetrator or
victim was moving, and the type of weapon used to create the blood spill.
Caliber - correct answersThe diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm, usually expressed
in hundredths of an inch or in millimeters.
Composite Drawing - correct answersA sketch of a suspect produced from eyewitness
descriptions of one or more persons.
Criminology - correct answersThe study of criminal activity and how it is dealt with by
the law.
DNA - correct answersDeoxyribonucleic acid. Double helix strand. Genetic code
(fingerprint). 50% from mom and 50% from dad. ACGT.
DNA Electrophoresis - correct answersThe technique by which DNA fragments are
placed in a gel and charged with electricity. An applied electric field then separates the
fragments by size, as part of the process of creating a genetic profile.
DNA Profiling - correct answersThe process of testing to identify DNA patterns or types.
In forensic science this testing is used to indicate parentage or to exclude or include
individuals as possible sources of bodily fluid stains (blood, saliva, semen) and other
biological evidence (bones, hair, teeth)
Evidence - correct answersAnything that has been used, left, removed, altered, or
contaminated during the commission of a crime or other event under investigation
Fingerprint - correct answersThe unique patterns created by skin ridges found on the
palm sides of fingers and thumbs.
,Forensic Science - correct answersThe application of science to law. The application of
science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a
criminal justice system. The focus of forensics is the crime lab. The crime lab uses the
principles and technique of biology, chemistry, physics, geology, anthropology, and
other sciences in order to place physical evidence into a professional discipline.
Absolute Certainty - correct answersultimate sureness with no implication of possible
change.
Accountability - correct answersthe quality of subordinate workers being responsible for
his/her own work and answerable to a superior.
Accuracy - correct answersthe degree of conformity of a measured quantity to its actual
(true) value.
Acetone - correct answersa colorless, highly flammable chemical compound used as an
organic solvent, an ingredient in many lacquer thinner compounds and adhering liquids.
Accelerant - correct answersan agent, often an ignitable liquid, that acts to initiate a fire
or increase its rate of spread.
Administrative documentation - correct answersrecords such as case related
conversations, evidence receipts, description of evidence packaging and seals, and
other pertinent information.
Administrative (or Laboratory Director) Case File Review - correct answersa detailed
final review of the case file documentation. A member other than the assigned analyst
must conduct the Laboratory Director case file review on all case files.
Algor mortis - correct answersthe postmortem cooling of the body.
Analytical Data - correct answersall case specific records such as notes, worksheets,
graphs, spectra, printouts, computer data files, photographs, photocopies, microscopic
slides and other data or records.
Analytical Procedure - correct answersan orderly step-by-step process designed to
ensure operational uniformity and to minimize systematic variability.
Analyst - correct answersany ADFS personnel assigned to perform scientific
investigation or evidential examination.
Ante mortem - preceding death Antigens - correct answersforeign substances in the
body that are capable of causing disease.
Arson - correct answersthe intentional and unlawful burning of a building or other
property.
, Assessment - correct answersthe process of evaluating analysts to determine their level
of technical knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Asphyxiation - correct answersa medical term for suffocation, which leads to lack of
oxygen in the blood.
Audit - correct answersa review conducted to compare the various aspects of the
laboratory's performance with a standard for that performance.
Back spatter - correct answersblood directed back toward the source of energy or force
that caused the spatter; often associated with entrance gunshot wounds.
Ballistics - correct answersbranch of physics that deals with the flights of projectiles.
Base pair - correct answerscombination of 2 nucleotides (A and T or G and C) held
together by weak hydrogen bonds; the DNA double helix is formed when a base pair of
nucleotides in the DNA strands are connected by these bonds.
Bile - correct answersa digestive fluid made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder
that helps digest fats.
Biology - the science that studies living organisms. - correct answers
Blind or Double-Blind Sample Technique - correct answersa type of proficiency testing
where the member is not aware that the sample/case under analysis is a quality
assessment sample.
Blood borne pathogens - correct answerspathogenic microorganisms in blood or other
body fluids that can cause disease in people. These pathogens include, but are not
limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in all of its
forms.
Bloodstain - correct answerstransfer resulting when liquid blood comes into contact with
a surface.
Calibration - correct answersthe set of operations which establish, under specified
conditions, the relationship between values indicated by a measuring instrument or
measuring system, or values represented by a material, and the corresponding known
values of a measurement.
Case File - the hard copy case folder which contains all or part of the documentation
forming the case record. - correct answers
