Contacting Us and Submitting a Case

Step 1 - Call Us

Prior to the shipment or delivery of any evidence or casework, call us at (575) 646-7850. We’ll discuss the particulars of your case and the services you’d like performed, then formally open a new case and begin the necessary paperwork. We’ll then arrange for the delivery of your evidence or casework so that we can begin our work for you. All this will take just a few minutes of time.

Step 2 - Deliver your evidence or casework

We’ll provide you with our physical and mailing addresses for the delivery of your samples, evidence, casework, or other relevant items. Click here to download our Chain of Custody Form

Step 3 - Receive your reports

After our analyses are complete, we’ll gather our data and conclusions into a report for your review. We’ll also contact you to make arrangements for the return of your evidence and casework.

DNA evidence can become contaminated when DNA from another source gets mixed with DNA relevant to the case. For this reason, investigators and laboratory personnel should always wear disposable gloves, use clean instruments, and avoid touching other objects, including their own body, when handling evidence.

Environmental factors, such as heat and humidity, can also accelerate the degradation of DNA. For example, wet or moist evidence that is packaged in plastic will provide a growth environment for bacteria that can destroy DNA evidence.

Therefore, biological evidence should be thoroughly air dried, packaged in paper, and properly labeled. Handled in this manner, DNA can be stored for years without risk of extensive degradation, even at room temperature.

Here are a few guidelines to follow when packaging evidence:

1. Take precautions to preserve the evidence:
   • Avoid excessive heat and moisture.
   • Avoid touching evidence with your body or bare hands.
   • Don't allow two items of evidence to touch each other.
   • Refrigerate if possible.
2. Wrap and seal each item of evidence separately in paper sacks or envelopes to avoid cross-contamination (avoid plastic bags).
3. Place the evidence in a clean, dry, and previously unused inner container.
4. Seal the inner container with tamper-evident or filament tape.
5. Affix "EVIDENCE" and "BIOHAZARD" labels, if appropriate, on the inner container.
6. Affix any chains of custody or other case paperwork between the inner and outer containers.
7. Place the sealed inner container in a clean, dry, and previously unused outer container with clean packing materials. Do not use loose Styrofoam.
8. Completely seal the outer container so that tampering with the container would be evident.
9. You are responsible for ensuring that your packaging in in compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation and International Air Transport Association regulations. Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) lists specific requirements that must be observed when preparing hazardous materials for shipment by air, land, or sea. In addition, the International Air Transport Association annually publishes the Dangerous Goods Regulations detailing how to prepare and package shipments for air transportation.
10. Unless otherwise instructed, address the outer container as follows:

    The Forensic Testing Laboratory
    Genesis Center A, Rm. 101
    3655 Research Dr.
    Las Cruces, NM 88003