NCJ Number
175447
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 48 Issue: 6 Dated: November/December 1998 Pages: 704-717
Date Published
1998
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Research was conducted to develop a technique that would repeatedly give results for developing and/or lifting latent fingerprints off human skin and that could easily be incorporated into a portable fingerprint kit.
Abstract
An extensive study of perspiration was done to determine the difference between palmar sweat and perspiration on the rest of the body. Portions of belly skin were then obtained to study the development of fingerprints from skin under laboratory conditions. Fingerprints were placed on the skin using three methods: (1) normal perspiration was used that involved simply unwashed hands; (2) palmar perspiration was used that involved placing hands in plastic gloves until they were noticeably sweaty; and (3) facial sebum was used that involved rubbing the fingertips on the head and neck area. The facial sebum condition yielded the best fingerprints for testing. Fingerprints were analyzing using lifting, cyanoacrylate/Magna Brush, rhodamine 6G dye staining, and concentrated cyanoacrylate/Magna Brush techniques. The concentrated cyanoacrylate/Magna Brush technique was the most effective in developing latent fingerprints on human skin. This technique was relatively easy to use and could be taken directly to the scene of a crime without using complicated or cumbersome instrumentation. 20 references and 8 figures