NCJ Number
243856
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 63 Issue: 5 Dated: September - October 2013 Pages: 593-608
Date Published
October 2013
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined the use of commercially available fingermark simulants as quality control standards in forensic laboratories.
Abstract
Commercially available fingermark simulants were compared to latent fingermark deposits to assess their efficacy as standards for a quality control assessment of fingermark development reagents. Deposits of the simulants and latent fingermarks were made on paper substrates and were developed using reagents that target amino acids (ninhydrin, 1,2-indanedione) and sebaceous secretions (Oil Red O, physical developer). The resulting marks were compared for visibility and color. Significant differences were observed between the simulants and latent fingermarks in response to the fingermark development reagents. Infrared spectroscopic analysis of the simulants compared to untreated latent fingermarks revealed differences in chemical composition. These results indicate that these simulants are not well suited as quality control standards in forensic laboratories and should be used with extreme caution in any form of research into latent fingermark detection. (Published Abstract)