Methods
First-Person Collection and Analysis Methodology
This page is written in first-person by design. It functions to describe
what was collected, how it was documented, what tools were used, and what limitations exist.
1) Sample collection by observers
- Document collection context (date, location type, symptoms/context, non-identifying notes).
- Use clean collection tools and containers; avoid cross-contact with textiles.
- Capture pre-collection and post-collection photos when possible.
2) Chain of custody and documentation
- Assign a stable ID: e.g., MS-FIL-2026-0402.
- Maintain logs: who collected it, when, where stored, when imaged, when analyzed.
- Record environmental controls (surface type, lighting, contamination risks).
3) Imaging
- Capture raw images with consistent scale references.
- Store originals unchanged; publish processed versions separately.
- Note magnification, camera model, lens, and lighting setup.
4) Analytical methods (as available)
- FTIR, EDX, SEM: publish instrument settings where possible.
- Report uncertainties and detection limits, not just conclusions.
- Distinguish “observed” from “inferred.”
5) Limitations and sources of error
- Environmental contamination is always possible; document mitigation steps.
- Small-N datasets require caution; publish as “observations,” not universal claims.
- Medical claims are out of scope; this is materials documentation.
Next: Raw Evidence hub