Why it matters

Discarded material can cross a boundary between everyday activity and a usable analytical input.

Acquisition is only the first step

A biological trace being accessible does not establish that it contains enough usable material for a particular analysis. Nor does a successful analysis establish an identity. Those are separate stages, each with its own limits.

The concept draws attention to the gap between ordinary behavior and intentional sample submission. In discussing a real example, identify what was collected, what was actually analyzed, and what output was produced. Avoid filling the missing stages with assumptions about what a more capable laboratory might theoretically do.

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