Glossary
Forensic Science Technician Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential forensic science technician terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key forensic science technician vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in forensic science technician training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- Accreditation
- Lab quality certification.
- AFIS
- Fingerprint database.
- Chain of custody
- Record of evidence handling.
- CODIS
- National DNA database.
- Contamination
- Unwanted transfer of material.
- Crime scene sketch
- A diagram of a scene.
- DNA profile
- Genetic identification.
- Exemplar
- A known sample for comparison.
- Expert witness
- Testifies on technical matters.
- GC-MS
- An instrument identifying chemicals.
- Latent print
- An invisible fingerprint.
- Locard’s principle
- Every contact leaves a trace.
- Presumptive test
- A screening test.
- Toxicology
- Testing for drugs and poisons.
- Trace evidence
- Small materials like fibers.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free Forensic Science Technician practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Forensic Science Technician training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.