If the court does not issue an order for a blood specimen within 30 days, what happens to the specimen?

When the court does not issue an order for a blood specimen within 30 days, the specimen is discarded. This timeframe is crucial as it ensures that any biological samples are handled in accordance with legal standards and procedures. If no order is provided, it typically indicates that the court does not require the specimen for further proceedings. Therefore, to avoid the potential for degradation or legal complications, the specimen is discarded instead of being stored or sent elsewhere.

Storing a specimen without a legal mandate can lead to issues related to chain of custody and misuse of biological materials. Similarly, analyzing an unrequested specimen could raise ethical and legal concerns regarding consent and proper authorization. Thus, discarding the specimen after the specified timeframe is the most appropriate course of action.