2026 Crime Scene Technician Full Practice Test

The key idea is preserving the package’s integrity to maintain the chain of custody. When an evidence package isn’t sealed properly, there’s a real risk of tampering or contamination, and this is usually visible as damage or alteration to the container or the seal itself.

That visible damage or alteration is exactly what signals that the package’s integrity hasn’t been maintained. You might see a broken tamper-evident seal, torn or loosened tape, or an opened lid—any of these indicates the contents could have been accessed or compromised.

The other options don’t fit the scenario. Increasing the evidence’s value isn’t a consequence of improper sealing, and claiming no impact ignores the purpose of seals. A seal changing color automatically isn’t a standard result unless a special, color-changing seal is used, and even then it would indicate tampering, not a normal, expected change.