What is the primary method for collecting fingerprints, fibers, and hair at a crime scene?

The primary method for collecting fingerprints, fibers, and hair at a crime scene is gathering tape. This method is particularly effective for picking up fine evidence such as fibers and hair. The adhesive nature of the tape allows for the careful capture of these materials from various surfaces without significant disturbance to the underlying evidence or the crime scene itself.

When using gathering tape, investigators can gently press the tape onto the surface where the evidence is suspected to be present. This technique minimizes the risk of contamination and is ideal for collecting trace evidence that could be critical in linking a suspect to a crime scene.

In contrast, while methods like glove collection, wet wiping, and dusting powders can also be used in various contexts, they are not specialized for trace evidence collection as gathering tape is. Glove collection primarily pertains to preserving items for fingerprint but does not effectively capture loose fibers and hair. The wet wipe method is generally used for cleaning or removing debris, and dusting powder is primarily employed to reveal fingerprints on surfaces but does not apply to the collection of fibers or hair.