Evidence is usually submitted to the laboratory either by personal delivery or by mail shipment. The distance the submitting agency must travel to the laboratory and the urgency of the case will usually determine the method of transmittal. If personal delivery of the evidence is undertaken, the deliverer should be someone who is familiar with the case. This arrangement will facilitate any discussions that may ensue between laboratory personnel and the deliverer concerning specific aspects of the case. If desired, most evidence can be conveniently shipped through the mails. However postal regulations do restrict the shipment of certain chemicals and live ammunition and prohibit the mailing of explosives. In such situations, the laboratory must be consulted to determine the disposition of these substances. Care must also be exercised in the packaging of evidence in order to prevent breakage or other accidental destruction while it is in transit to the laboratory. Most laboratories require that an evidence submission form accompany all evidence submitted. It is essential that this form be properly completed. Its information will enable the laboratory analyst to make an intelligent and complete forensic document examination of the evidence. Particular attention should be paid to providing the laboratory with a brief description of the case history. This information will allow the examiner to analyze the specimens in a logical sequence and make the proper comparisons, and it will also facilitate the search for trace quantities of evidence. The particular kind of forensic document examination requested for each type of evidence is to be delineated. However, it must be made clear that the analyst will not be bound to adhere strictly to the specific tests requested by the investigator. As the forensic document examination proceeds, new evidence may be uncovered, and as a result the complexity of the case may change. Furthermore, the analyst may find the initial requests to be incomplete or not totally relevant to the case. Finally, a list of items submitted for forensic document examination must be included on the evidence submission form. Each item is to be packaged separately and assigned a number or letter, which should be listed in an orderly and logical sequence on the form.