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Goal: A simple, foldable cardboard box was designed, which is suitable for the drying and storage of biological evidence recovered on cotton swabs.

Material and method: The box is made of 1 millimeter corrugated cardboard and can be sealed on both ends with a special non-removable security seal. Immediately after collection swabs are placed into the drying racks within the cardboard box, which is subsequently folded, labeled, sealed and initialed. The drying time of different biological materials in the box was evaluated at different temperature and humidity and compared to "air drying" on the bench and by means of a swab dryer.

Results: Swabs completely air dried within the sealed box in 3-5 hours, and PCR-based DNA analysis was successfully performed on all samples. On buccal swabs collected for a national DNA-database pilot project the PCR success rate was 100% when swabs were air dried in this box and stored at room temperature for up to one year.

Conclusion: The ability to perform successful DNA analysis on biological evidence depends very much on the first step- how specimens are collected and preserved. Certain types of biological evidence, such as liquid body fluids and their wet and dry stains, are often recovered using dry cotton swabs or cotton swabs moistened with sterile water or saline. In order to prevent decomposition, it is recommended to either "air dry" or freeze these swabs as soon as possible after collection. This simple device can substitute either air drying of swabs by means of an air stream (Swab Dryer) or freezing of samples after collection, if the necessary equipment is not available. In this box the evidence is properly packed, labeled and sealed, thus preventing cross contamination, degradation and sample switch. It is a valuable device for the collection of biological evidence at a crime scene, during sexual assault examinations, and for PCR-based data basing and paternity testing.