Personal Identification Reports

Latent Print

 Finger prints found at the scene of the crime which are the result of the imprints
of the ridges on fingers and palms.

KINDS OF LATENT PRINTS

 Semi-Visible - (plastic prints) may be formed on plastic objects such as melted

paraffin from burning candle, tar, paste fat, butter and soap.
 Visible – (patent) Left by the finger smeared with some colored substance,
generally blood, dirt and paint.
 Invisible - (latent print) generally invisible as the implies. Sometimes they can be
seen on the smooth surfaces with the aid of indirect light.

SEARCHING FOR LATENT PRINTS:

1. Precaution is important. Do not remove the object from the original position or touch
by your forefinger anything that requires finger print examination.

2. Search of latent prints should be considered in a systematic way and intelligent

manner.

3. Attention should given to the objects such as guns, doorknobs, glasses, window,
papers and bottle. Protect and preserve any latent print develop.

METHOD OF DEVELOPING LATENT PRINTS:

 Powder Method

The development of latent print with the application of powder to print in a manner that
the powder will adhere to the moisture left by the ridges of the finger.

 Liquid Method

applying reagent (liquid chemical solution) on the suspected area and exposing the
fingerprints found there.

 Fuming Method
process of developing latent prints by employing vapors that reacts with the chemical
composition in the latent prints.

 Casting

the process of putting synthetic material for prints found in dust, flour, soap, and any
finally powered materials to acquire a negative mold of such print.

Post-mortem fingerprints are a valuable biometric used to aid in the identification of a

deceased individual.

Postmortem fingerprinting is a consolidated and thorough guide to the recovery,

identification, and management of unidentified postmortem fingerprint records.

Although fingerprints can be collected from either a living person or a dead body, there
are significant distinctions between printing the living (i.e., antemortem fingerprinting)
and the deceased (i.e., postmortem fingerprinting).

Postmortem finger printing is generally viewed as a tricky, problematic task, where the
major practical challenges arise primarily from death-related modifications of the soft
tissues.

It depends on the time of Death: If death is caused in shorter time then it is easy to take
prints otherwise it goes difficult. The dead bodies are classified in to three categories as
follows:

1. Those who have died presently and the rigor mortis have not set in.

2. The dead bodies where rigor mortis has set in.

3. The dead bodies where decomposition has taken place.

The three stages of decomposition are livor mortis, algor mortis, and rigor mortis.

The first, livor mortis, means ''discoloration of death''. What this means is that once
someone dies, the blood starts draining from the extremities down to the area that's on
the ground. For example, a body lying on its back is going to be pale on the chest and
face, while dark on the back and buttocks.

The second, algor mortis, means ''coldness of death''. This is where the body starts to
cool down in temperature and this stage lasts for a few hours. However, it does not start
till 30 minutes to an hour after death.
The third, rigor mortis, means ''stiffness of death''. Usually the rigor mortis occurs from
three hours after death and will be remained up to 24 hours after death. Depending up
on the type of the dead body we have to use the different methods of taking finger
impressions.

Rigor mortis causes the fingers to be clenched in fists, so that to expose the palmar
finger surface, one must apply considerable force or make an incision at the wrist
crease to relax the fingers. The latter is regarded as a last resort, performed only if the
law or other regulations allow it.

Each of these stages happens during certain times of the decomposition of a body,
which allows for medical examiners to really get an idea of the time of death.

The antemortem (before death) record of fingerprints must exist in order to establish the
identity of the deceased using their fingerprints. If the victim was fingerprinted before
starting a job or if they had been arrested, an antemortem record of their fingerprints
would exist. An examiner would then compare this antemortem record to the set of
fingerprints taken from the corpse. This latter set is referred to as a postmortem record.

When decomposition, desiccation (dryness), or maceration (separation and softening of

skin by soaking in liquid) of the friction ridge skin precludes satisfactory recordings with
traditional methods, the hands, fingers, or feet of the deceased may be surgically
removed by a medical examiner and submitted to a laboratory, where advanced
procedures may be conducted.

Method of Removing Rigor Mortis

The dead bodies where the rigor mortis has set in. It should be removed for taking the
finger impressions. There are many methods of removing the rigor mortis. We have to
immerse the hand of the dead body up to the wrist in the water. If the water is very hot
we have to immerse it for one minute. If the water is not very hot normally it is immersed
for two three minutes and it is taken out and dried with towel. Now the wrist is quiet
movable. We can take the finger impressions. Sometimes even after immersing the
wrists the fingers are not straighten, then we have to use force for straightening the
fingers. If the rigor mortis is in higher stage, even after immersing the hand in the hot
water and after using force we fail to achieve the straightening of the fingers in that case
the doctor should be asked to make the deep cuts on each fingers in the joints.

First Case of Using Postmortem Fingerprinting

The first time that fingerprint evidence taken from a cadaver and used in court was in
1978, when police used black magnetic powder to lift fingerprints from the left ankle of a
deceased female suspected of being sexually assaulted in North Miami Beach, Florida,
USA; her dead body was one of three at the scene. The print was matched to those of a
known suspect, Stephen William Beattie (USA), who was found guilty on the basis of
the fingerprint evidence and sentenced to three consecutive death sentences on 1
February 1979. Beattie committed suicide in prison whilst awaiting the death penalty.

Equipments used in Mortem Fingerprinting

FINGERPRINT INK PAD- This is an affordable high quality non-ceramic fingerprint pad
with a consistent porous printing surface. It will produce thousands of rolled and plain
impressions. Less pressure is needed when fingers are rolled across the pad's surface
so less distortion is transmitted to the resulting impressions.

INKING SLAB- Glass Inking Slab are ideal for consistent quality in rolled inked
fingerprinting. Simply apply a small amount of the Black Fingerprint Ink to either slab
and roll to a thin layer with the Fingerprint Ink Roller. Fingerprinting may then proceed
without the risk of excessive inking associated with many low quality fingerprint ink
pads. The unbreakable Stainless Steel Inking Slab is also recommended for field work.

FINGERPRINT INK ROLLER- Black Fingerprint Ink is easily applied to either the
Stainless Steel Inking Slab or the Glass Inking Slab with this smooth roller.

POSTMORTEM FINGERPRINT KIT- This kit is intended to assist in the fingerprinting of

deceased individuals in the field. Basic postmortem fingerprinting techniques are
accomplished with these most basic tools. Quality inked impressions are produced with
minimal experience and effort. Apart from materials and equipment for taking
fingerprints and straightening clenched fingers, chemical solutions are provided to
restore wrinkled fingers to a condition in which prints can be made.

POSTMORTEM FINGERPRINTING STRIPS- Specifically designed for recording hard

to obtain deceased and rolled inked impressions. Unlike other postmortem strips with
improperly numbered finger blocks, these strips are consistent with the finger block
numbers on a standard fingerprint card, right hand 1-5, left hand 6-10.

POSTMORTEM PRINT SPOON- A Postmortem Print Spoon facilitates the recording of

friction ridge detail from deceased individuals. After inking the fingertip, simply position a
Postmortem Fingerprinting Strip in the four tabs of the spoon and press onto the finger.
The curvature of the spoon will record substantial detail. For use with Postmortem
Fingerprinting Strips.
PALM PRINT ROLLER- The Palm Print Roller features a solid plastic tube roller
covered in a nonslip material which assists in positioning the palm print card. Starting at
the base of the palm, the card and hand should be simultaneously rolled towards the
tips of the fingers.

ID ENHANCER SPRAY- I.D. Enhancer Spray provides a non-toxic topical liquid

solution for direct application to the fingerprint ridge detail of living subjects or the
recently deceased. Ideal for use prior to either live scan or inked fingerprinting. Prior to
fingerprinting, simply spray the fingers or palms of the subject. The subject's fingers and
palms should be rubbed together until the solution is absorbed. There will be an instant
improvement in ridge detail, resulting in fewer rejections.

Recording Decomposed Friction Ridge Skin

Plastic regeneration Method

In these method two things one used to take the finger impressions of the decomposed
body.

(i) Glycerinated Gelatin

(ii) Air

In the decomposed bodies on the fingers there is shrinking of the tissues on the bulb
portion of the fingers. In order to remove these shrinkages we have to make use of
glycerinated gelatin or air.

(i) Glycerinated Gelatin: These contains of this Glycerinated Gelatin is one part
of Glycerin and one part of Gelatin. The mixture of these two is heated and it
is injected in between the nail and the skin for each finger. The Glycerinated
Gelatin enters inside portions of the bulb of the finger and shrinking is
removed then we can use ink and take the finger impressions slowly on a
piece of paper which is attached to the shoe horn. Especially in decomposed
bodies can should be taken while applying the ink and rolling the fingers.
(ii) By Using Air: Just like Glycerinated Gelatin air is also used for removing the
shrinkness on the bulb of the finger. Usually one to one and half cc of air is
injected for finger soon after taking the needle out we have to massage the
skin by massaging the air or the Glycerinated Gelatin will not come out from
the skin. Then by applying the ink we have to take finger impressions slowly.
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) Solution Method:

Depending up on the nature of decomposition of the dead body we have to use any
method for taking the impressions. In this method 1.3% of diluted NaOH is taken in a
flask. The doctor is asked to cut the first phalange of each finger. Each finger is
separately immersed in diluted NaOH solution. Totally we have to take 10 flasks. The
label should be pasted for each flask to know the exact finger to which it belongs. After
lapse of half an hour we have to see whether the shrinking is disappeared. If it is not
disappeared we have to immerse the finger another half an hour within an hour
shrinking is almost disappeared. Then we can ink the finger and take the fingerprints. If
we immerse the fingers longer period in the NaOH solution (i.e. more than one hour)
there is possibility of softening the ridges and slightly the upper lair of the bulb starts
tearing. If we think that it is so soft just to make it harden we have to immerse it in 3% of
mild solution of formaldehyde for few minutes. Then the fingers are taken out and dried
with the featherless towel very carefully and by applying ink the prints are taken.

Xylene Solution: If we fail to get the proper impressions in the second method then we
have to adopt this method. Here the upper lair of the skin is removed by using xylene
solution and that is immersed in formaldehyde solution for few minutes then it is taken
out. The lair is kept on the operator’s concerned finger by applying the ink we can take
the finger impression on the paper which is pasted on the shoe horn.

Formaldehyde Solution: If the ridges are too soft even in the above method we fail to
get the impressions. Then the upper lair of the skin is immersed in higher percentage of
formaldehyde solution (i,e 9%) for few minutes. It is taken out and the prints are taken
according to the above method. A 10–15% soaking solution of formaldehyde may be
used in extreme cases to firm up the skin to facilitate this process. Formaldehyde,
however, can cause the skin to become very firm and brittle, causing the skin to split.
The skin should soak for an hour or so until sufficiently firm. Once hardened, the friction
ridge skin should be removed, patted dry, and recorded.

Radiography Method: This is the last method of taking the impression of decomposed
body. When the skin is too soft and the finger is completely decomposed, we can make
use of this method. Radiography means the photography by means of X-ray. This is the
most costliest method. Radiography at present is not used in India. This method of
taking the finger impressions is rarely used in the western countries like USA.

Recording Macerated Friction Ridge Skin

Maceration occurs when friction ridge skin is immersed, usually in water, for an
extended period of time. The epidermal layer absorbs water, often swells, and can
loosen from the dermis within a few hours after immersion.

If the friction ridge skin is not too badly damaged, the skin should be carefully cleaned,
wiped with alcohol, and recorded as previously described for recently deceased
subjects. If the skin has separated from the dermal layer and is wrinkled, it may be
possible to pull the skin from the back of the finger to smooth out the pattern area by
pinching the skin tightly. This will facilitate inking and recording. Stretching of the
friction ridge skin in this manner may also facilitate the recording of palmprints and
footprints.

For situations in which the epidermis is missing or has been totally destroyed because
of prolonged immersion in a liquid, a method known as osmotic rehydration (the
boiling method) can produce very satisfactory results. This method produces the best
results when used on hands or feet that are soft and pliable, with no epidermis present,
and with the ridges of the dermis appearing flat. The hot water plumps the dermis, thus
facilitating the recording of the ridges. To proceed, water is heated in a pot to just below
boiling point (~200 °F) and maintained at this temperature. The friction ridge skin being
processed is immersed in the heated water for 10 seconds. A shorter time is
recommended for fine ridge detail (e.g., as children have) or where advanced
decomposition is present. A longer time, up to 30 seconds, may be necessary at the
examiner’s discretion. The raised friction ridge detail should be carefully cleaned, if
necessary, with a soft-bristled toothbrush and water in the direction of the ridge flow,
wiped with alcohol, and lightly dusted with black fingerprint powder. A white adhesive
lifting material is then used to record and preserve the friction ridge detail.

Recording Desiccated Friction Ridge Skin

Traditional methods to obtain recordings of friction ridge detail from desiccated skin
usually involve removing the hands or feet and subjecting the skin to many hours of
potentially destructive chemical rehydration soaking and softening techniques. Although
these methods work well to rehydrate the friction ridge skin, and will be discussed in
further detail, a much less destructive and time-consuming method is available. This
method involves the use of a silicone product (Mikrosil) to successfully record
friction ridge detail that has been subjected to various types of destructive conditions
such as desiccation, hardening, or wrinkling. Removal of the hands or feet is not always
necessary, and this procedure may be accomplished at the mortuary or morgue.
Traditional Rehydration Method

This method is used primarily when extreme drying and dehydration of the friction ridge
skin has caused excessive shriveling and wrinkling of the tissues, thus precluding
sufficient recordings using less destructive methods. Individual fingers or toes should be
placed in separate 75 mL capped bottles, nail-side down. The bottles should be labeled
with the subject’s name, case number, and the finger or toe number. Photographs
should be taken of any friction ridge detail prior to the rehydration process, because this
procedure is potentially destructive to the tissues.

Recording Rehydrated Friction Ridge Skin

To begin, the fingers should be tied with string around the distal phalangeal joint (first
joint) to prevent the material to be injected from escaping. To accomplish this, the finger
should be gently dried with paper towels and lightly dusted with fingerprint powder.
Excess moisture and powder may be removed by rolling the finger on paper towels until
the fingers are sufficiently dry. The friction ridge skin is then coated with a thin layer of
fingerprint ink, either by rolling on an inked plate or by rolling ink on the friction ridge
skin with an ink roller. The finger is then recorded in the usual manner by applying light
pressure to the nail side of the finger while rolling it on an index card or other suitable
recording card. This process should be repeated until satisfactory results are obtained.

Recording Charred Friction Ridge Skin

Charring of the skin can occur, producing very brittle, often easily destroyed skin. Care
must be exercised not to destroy the epidermal layer of friction ridge skin should
removal of the hands or feet become necessary. As a worst-case scenario for severely
charred skin, photography of any discernible friction ridge detail using oblique (side-to-
side) lighting may be the only method that will produce satisfactory results. The correct
procedure to record friction ridge detail that has been subjected to desiccation and
charring will be determined by the level of destruction to the friction ridge skin. To
record the friction ridge detail from this skin, an ink roller is lightly coated with ink using
an inking plate in the same manner as when recording inked standards from a live
person. The friction ridge skin to be recorded is then placed on a hard flat surface,
ridge-side up. With gentle pressure, and while the skin is held in place, the ink is rolled
onto the skin. The skin is then flipped over, ridge side down, onto a standard 8” x 8”
recording card, and while the skin is held in place, the roller is then gently rolled across
the skin, pressing the ink onto the card. This method should be repeated until a
satisfactory recording is produced.
Other Techniques on Postmortem Fingerprinting

Carbonization

This implies dehydration, soiling by soot, loss of superficial skin layers, and
thinning of the papillary crests. Even with bodies heavily damaged by the combustion
process, it is possible to recover fingerprints because, on account of the heat, the fists
tend to be clenched, thus preserving the fingertips. In these cases, it is necessary to
remove the fingers in order to clean them and work on them. Cleaning is carried out by
degreasing the finger with ether and by removing the layer of soot on the fingertip with a
soft brush. It is possible to use the technique of rehydration and of reinflation described
for the mummified fingers, but the latex method is by far the most effective.

Putrefaction

Putrefaction leads to peeling off of the skin with a consequent progressive loss of
the papillary design. The first step in this case is to block the putrefactive process by
hardening the skin via immersion in ethanol for a time ranging from a few minutes to 1–
2 h. Dehydration because of the immersion in alcohol, although necessary, introduces
serious problems, such as the thinning of the papillary crests, which are already
compromised. At this point, it should be sufficient, once the epidermal glove (i.e., the
peeled-off skin) has been worn by the examiner, to ink the fingertip and transfer the
fingerprint on paper.

Saponification

Saponified fingers (left in water) present skin flaking, flattening of the papillary
crests, and, at times, hardening of the whole finger. The technique recommended in this
case is still that of reinflating and inking. It is clear that sometimes it is necessary to
combine these methods, depending on the different and mixed preservation conditions.
Finally, it is convenient for the operator (pathologist or anthropologist) to be in close con
tact with the fingerprint expert who will carry out the identification, to explain what he or
she is looking at. For example, the fingerprint obtained from the latex film has to be
inverted in “place and colored” before fingerprint comparative analysis.

Autopsy Fingerprint Technique Using Fingerprint Powder

The method is quick, easy to perform, and cost‐effective and provides the additional
advantage of an adhesive label that easily conforms to the finger, palm, or foot which
reduces smudging of prints in individuals with rigor mortis, skin slippage, or
decomposition compared to more traditional autopsy fingerprint collection techniques.
The prints can then be easily stored, either in hard‐copy form or scanned to make a
digital record.

Automated fingerprint identification technology

While the recovery of identifiable postmortem impressions from human remains is an

integral part of the forensic identification process, it is imperative that these impressions
be compared with an antemortem standard in order to have any value in establishing or
verifying human identity. This computer system, known as AFIS, has evolved from its
early use as a means of searching criminal ten- print records to its use today in
identifying suspects of crimes through latent print searches against local, state, and
national fingerprint repositories. AFIS, in addition to being a crime-fighting tool, is also
instrumental in the identification of the dead. If a dog tag or wallet can be obtained from
decedents, the fingerprint record can be located by entering personal identifying
information from these items into AFIS and printing off the antemortem record if it exists.
The postmortem prints then can be compared manually to the antemortem record to
verify identity. In instances of closed-population disaster situations, meaning that the
identities of individuals killed in the event are readily known, personal identifying
information can be obtained from items such as an airline manifest and entered into
AFIS to retrieve fingerprint records. The records can be obtained and manually
compared with recovered postmortem impressions, depending on the number of
fatalities.

Two techniques that can improve the chances of obtaining suitable fingerprints
from mummified remains.

The "baby powder method" involves applying a cornstarch-based powder, such as baby
powder, onto the darkened and mummified finger pads, to allow better visualization of
the fingerprint detail.

The "transillumination method" involves carefully dissecting away the tissues underlying
the finger pad, followed by placement of a bright light source underneath the finger pad,
such that the finger ridge pattern is illuminated.

METHODS OF DEVELOPING LATENT PRINTS

POWDER METHOD - The development of latent print with the application of powder to
the print in a manner that the powder that the powder will adhere to the moisture left by
ridges of the finger.
Variety of the powder

1. Black Powder

Little bit weak adhesive powder and common in the Philippines.

2. Aluminum Powder

Powderized aluminum of gray color, with strong adhesive powder.

3. Lycopodium

Yellowish color powder of plant spore

4. Mixture of Lycopodium and Aluminum Powder

Mixture is generally 7:3 for aluminum and lycopodium

5. SP Black Powder

Mixture of oxidized iron and aluminum powder with weak adhesive powder.

Different Processes of applying Fingerprint Powder;

1. BRUSH ON METHOD

Powders may be applied with a fingerprint brush, a brush with extremely fine fibers
designed to hold powder, and deposit it gently on the fingerprint to be revealed, without
rubbing away the often delicate residue of the fingerprint itself. They may also be
applied by blowing the powder across the fingerprint, or by pouring the powder onto the
print, and then blowing away the excess.

1. Create a latent fingerprint. Rub one finger along the side of your nose to make it oily,
and then press the fingertip to the side of the glass (oily or sticky fingers leave the best
prints).

2. Assume the role of detective and put on gloves to avoid contaminating the evidence.

3. Apply charcoal powder to the brush, and then gently brush the powder onto the side
of the glass so that the fingerprint is coated.

Remember: Using too much powder can result in a smudged print. Instead of putting
the brush directly into the charcoal powder, shake the closed jar, then load the brush
using only the powder that has transferred to the lid of the jar.
4. Use the brush to gently sweep away the excess powder to reveal the print (where the
powder has stuck to the oils left behind by the finger ridges).

5. Lift the print by gently pressing the tape onto the drinking glass, and then peeling it
off.

6. Stick the lifted print onto the Fingerprint Specimen Collection Card.

7. Use a magnifying glass to identify the arches, loops and whorls.

2. ROLLING METHOD

Rolling (rocking) method – place appropriate quantity of powder on an object to be

examined, lightly bend and tilt, spreading out powder all over the object in order that the
powder shall adhere to the fingerprints, the fingerprint is developed by flipping the back
side of the object to remove excess powder. Applied to high quality dried paper.

3. SPRAY METHOD

Small particle reagent technique is a means to develop latent fingermarks on wet,

non-porous surfaces including glass, plastic, metals and adhesive sides of tape. The
method is based on the adherence of fine particles of treating solution to the oily or fatty
components of latent fingermark residues. The effectiveness of technique can be
improved by adding fluorescent dye in treating solution. Fluorescent small particle
reagent composition not only detects faint and weak prints but it also develops latent
fingermarks on multi-colored surfaces. Small particle reagent technique is convenient,
efficient and cost-effective method to develop latent fingermarks on wide range of
substrates of forensic importance. Standardized testing of SPR formulation is also
suggested.

The solution: a special spray called SPR (Small Particle Reagent). SPR makes
fingerprints visible by spraying a solution consisting of fine coloured particles (White,
Black, UV-active) on the exhibit's wet surface. These particles stick to the endogenous
secretions and make the print detectable.

APPLICABLE EVIDENCE NAME OF THE POWDER METHOD USED

Glass with dried surface

(glass, mirror, bottle, etc.)
 Aluminum Powder Brush Method

 Pottery/ceramics Black Powder

(container,
ornaments, tiles)

 Metallic items
(knives, metallic Mixture of Lycopodium and
paints, stainless) Aluminum Powder

 Glossy cover paper

of Magazines

 Wooden materials Brush Method

(painted wood, bark,
bamboo)

 Synthetic resin
(plastic products,
decorative plywood,
cellphone)

Papers Black powder Rolling Method

 Metallic substance
(tin plate)

 Leather Products
Lycopodium Rolling Method or
(bag, handbag,
purse) Spray Method

 Rubber Products

FUMING METHOD

FUSEO MATSUMURA

 Developed “Fuming” technique in japan year 1977

 A hair and fiber expert at the saga prefecture crime laboratory of the national
police agency used microscope slides to examine trace evidence that he
 mounted using superglue. One day, while working on a case, he noticed a
fingerprint developing along the side of the glass slide. He presented his finding
to a colleague, Masato Soba, who eventually developed superglue fuming.

LATENT FINGERPRINT

 The word latent means hidden or unseen.

 Latent prints are undetectable until brought with a physical or chemical
process designed to enhance latent print residue.
 Affected by age, gender, stimuli, occupation, disease and any substances the
subject may have touched prior to deposition.
 After deposition: surface area, surface curvature/ shape, surface temperature,
humidity, time since they were placed and temperature.

COLLECTING LATENT FINGERPRINTS

One of the most common methods for discovering and collecting latent
fingerprints is by dusting a smooth or nonporous surface with fingerprint powder (black
granular, aluminum flake, black magnetic, etc.). If any prints appear, they are
photographed as mentioned above and then lifted from the surface with clear adhesive
tape. The lifting tape is then placed on a latent lift card to preserve the print.

However, fingerprint powders can contaminate the evidence and ruin the
opportunity to perform other techniques that could turn up a hidden print or additional
information. Therefore, investigators may examine the area with an alternate light
source or apply cyanoacrylate (super glue) before using powders.

BIOCHEMISTRY OF LATENT FINGERPRINT

 Help in understanding working of chemicals and developing more reagents.

 A latent print residue is mixture of secretion from glands.
 2 major glands in dermis sebaceous glands and sudoriferous (eccrine and
apocrine).
 The print is 99% water and the rest is trace amount of amino acids, lipids urea,
lactic acid, creatinine, glucose and drugs.
 250 ng of amino acid per fingerprint. They remain there after the water
evaporates.

WHAT IS FINGERPRINT FUMING?

Fingerprints leave behind traces of sweat and oils on surfaces that are not always
visible or recoverable by dusting powder. In these cases, a "fuming" technique is used.
This gas is attracted to the sweat and oils excreted from fingers and crystallizes to leave
behind a white residue that reveals the fingerprint.

CYANOACRYLATE

Also called super glue, fuming is a chemical method for the detection of latent
fingermarks on non-porous surfaces such as glass, plastic etc. The method relies on the
deposition of polymerized cyanoacrylate ester on residues of latent fingermarks. The
method develops clear, stable, white colored fingerprints. However, several post-
treatment procedures can be used to improve the contrast of developed prints. In
addition to it, some pre-treatment procedures can also be used to develop aged latent
fingermarks. It is an efficient, non-destructive and excellent procedure for developing
latent fingermarks.

CYANOACRYLATE FUMING

 Also called super glue fuming

 Latent fingerprint development ability of cyanoacrylate discovered in late 1970s.
 One of the most frequently-used latent print development processes.
 Used on virtually all nonporous surfaces, including glass, metal, coated papers,
and all forms of plastics

The reagent

Cyanoacrylate is one type of acrylate resin. Cyanoacrylate esters, such as ethyl

ester, are colorless, monomeric liquids. Alkyl 2-cyanoacrylate is acrylate ester which
has the triple-bonded carbon-nitrogen (cyano or nitrile) group bonded within an ester. It
forms vapors which interacts with certain eccrine components of latent fingermark
residues and gets polymerized and imparts a white color to them. This hard, white
polymer is known as polycyanoacrylate

What is the Cyanoacrylate Fuming Method (Super Glue Method)?

The super glue or cyanoacrylate method is a forensic science technique that uses the
vapors of super glue to develop latent fingerprints.

The main steps in fuming a fingerprint are:

1) putting super glue and water into the developing chamber on a warming plate

2) placing the piece of evidence into the developing chamber and

3) allowing time for the fingerprint to develop.

THREE STAGES PROCESS

1. Fumes of cyanoacrylate (CA) ester monomers are introduced to latent fingerprints

and quickly bind with initiators (amines and carboxylic groups) in the residue.

2. The monomer on the fingerprint residue reacts with another CA monomer in the
vapor phase to form a dimer on the print. This reacts with another monomer, and
another, eventually forming a polymer.

3. The final phase is when the polymer chain reaction is terminated.

Int = Initiator of polymerization. Amines and carboxylic groups in latent print are the
primary initiators of Cyanoacrylate polymerization.

METHOD

• The object is placed in an enclosed chamber containing a small electric heater.

• A small tray made from aluminum foil is placed on heater

• When it becomes hot, few ml of cyanoacrylate are added and fuming begins

• Fuming is continued until latent prints develop (30s to 15 mins )

• Can be photographed directly or treated with dyes to increase the visibility and
contrast of the prints .

ADVANTAGES

• Effective on rough surfaces

• Vapors are extremely sensitive to fingerprint residue

• Developed impressions are more durable

• Adaptable to many different crime scene and laboratory situations

• Relatively cheap

LIMITATIONS

• Liquid CA and its fumes can cause acute damage to skin, eyes, and mucous
membranes

• The accumulation of CA fumes on parts of a firearm could have an unfavorable effect

during a subsequent firearms examination

CHEMICAL REACTION WITH FINGERPRINT

• One such substance is this instant bond super glue which when combined with amino
acids, fatty acids, protein and other substances in the suspected latent fingerprint areas
will produce a visible and sticky material around the areas being investigated for marks

TO CONVERT CA GLUE INTO GAS

AIR-SEALED OR AIR-TIGHT TANK

MONITORING FOR OVERDEVELOPMENT

SUPER GLUE ACCELERATION

THE CA GLUE FUMING METHOD A GREAT HELP TO FORENSICS

• It can be seen that the super glue fuming method is a great help for both the national
and local police forces of a country in enabling them to identify perpetrators of crimes
via their fingerprints. It is affirmed, based on observed outcomes using the super glue
technique, that the technique generates superior latent fingerprints on surfaces that are
non-porous such as glass, metal and plastic

Why is the Cyanoacrylate Fuming Method Used?

By using the super glue method, fingerprints can be obtained from uneven surfaces and
hard-to-dust surfaces such as bottles, knives, guns and dead bodies. When dusting
uneven or difficult surfaces, there is only one chance to lift the print perfectly. If the
fingerprint is developed with cyanoacrylate or super glue fuming the print will be semi-
permanent, therefore allowing the examiner to re-dust and re-lift the print if necessary.

OTHER FUMING METHODS

IODINE FUMING

• Principle: natural body fats and oils in sebaceous material of a latent print temporarily
absorb the iodine vapors. This results in a change in color, from clear to a dark brown,
until the effect fades with time

• iodine fuming is used to reveal prints on porous and semiporous surfaces such as
paper, cardboard, and unfinished wood but not on metallic surfaces

• one of earliest methods

• inexpensive and easy

• non-destructive process - other techniques can be used afterwards

METHOD

• In the lab, iodine fuming is done in a chamber

• On the crime scene, fuming wands or fuming guns are used

• These are simple tubes with a small reservoir for iodine crystals.

• The reservoir is heated and iodine vapor is expelled from other end of the tube fuming
chamber iodine fuming gun

• In the lab, iodine fuming is done in a chamber

• On the crime scene, fuming wands or fuming guns are used

• These are simple tubes with a small reservoir for iodine crystals

• The reservoir is heated and iodine vapor is expelled from other end of the tube

• Semi-permanent by treating them with a starch solution, which turns the orange stains
blue-black (persist for weeks to months)

• Benzoflavone is another after-treatment for iodine-developed prints. Prints treated with

benzoflavone are effectively permanently fixed with a dark blue color.

LIQUID METHOD: NINHYDRIN

Liquid method

applying reagent (liquid chemical solution) on the suspected area and exposing
the fingerprints found there.

HISTORY OF NINHYDRIN

• Ninhydrin was first described in 1910 when Siegfried Ruhemann mistakenly prepared
the compound.

• Ruhemann observed that the new compound reacted with skin and amino acids to
produce a purple, and he published a series of papers detailing this and other reactions.

• He proposed a structure for the deeply colored today known as Ruhemann’s purple,
and commented on the possible application of the reaction to the detection of trace
amounts of amino acids and protein products in biological samples
• Following Ruhemann’s discovery, ninhydrin found widespread use in analytical
chemistry and biochemistry applications. As early as 1913, the reaction with amino
acids was an important diagnostic test for the presence of protein and amine
compounds in biological samples.

• The reagent was so powerful and versatile that some authors suggested it was the
most widely used reaction in analytical laboratories.

• This use of ninhydrin was frequently accompanied by warnings to avoid contact

between bare skin and any surfaces to come into contact with the reagent

• This was due to the strong reaction between ninhydrin and sweat, which would cause
the appearance of fingerprints on chromatograms.

• Despite these warnings, which clearly indicated the ability of ninhydrin to develop
fingerprints, the reagent was not applied in a forensic context until 1954.

• NINHYDRIN TEST WAS 1ST TIME USE BY ODEN AND HOFSTEN

• Following this initial report, ninhydrin rapidly became an indispensable tool in the
detection of latent fingerprints, with widespread use among jurisdictions being
documented as early as 1959.

• The technique is now amongst the most popular methods for fingerprint detection on
paper and other porous substrate

FINGERPRINT DETECTION BY AMINO ACID REAGENTS

• Some fingerprints are created by the deposition of sweat from the fingers when they
come into contact with a surface. This sweat consists mainly of aqueous components,
which comprise 98% of the volume of a fingerprint.

• These aqueous deposits contain a small, but detectable, amount of amino acids,
averaging about 250 ng per fingerprint After the water evaporates from the surface, the
amino acids remain as solid material

• For porous surfaces such as paper, amino acids are desirable targets for fingerprint
development reagents. Although uncontrollable variables (such as the total amount of
sweat deposited by the finger, the amino acid concentration of the individual’s
excretions, and the age of the fingerprint)
• influence the amount of amino acids transferred to the amino acids are always present
in perspiration in some amount on contact with paper, these amino acids impregnate
the surface of the paper, where they are retained by their high affinity for cellulose.

• Because of this affinity, amino acids do not migrate significantly from their initial
deposition sites; however, the amount of amino acids retained in the fingerprint
decreases gradually over time

• Furthermore, amino acids react with a wide variety of chemicals to produce colored
compounds These qualities have been exploited to produce clear, sharp images of
fingerprints that were up to 40 years old

• At least 14 amino acids may be present in fingerprint residues

• To produce the best-developed fingerprint, the ideal reagent must be nonspecific to a

particular amino acid

• Ninhydrin is one of many chemicals that acts as a nonspecific amino acid reagent and
is, therefore, highly suitable for fingerprint development.

POROUS SUBSTRATES

are generally absorbent and include materials like paper, cardboard, wood, and
other forms of cellulose. Fingerprints deposited onto these media absorb into the
substrate and are somewhat durable. Amino acid techniques are particularly useful here
because the amino acids tend to remain stationary when absorbed and do not migrate.

NINHYDRIN

• Ninhydrin is a crystalline solid that is colorless to pale yellow in color and is highly
soluble in polar solvents such as water and methanol

• A chemical solution which is use to enhance fingermarks on porous surfaces such as

paper and cardboard.

• A chemical that reacts with amino acids presents in fingerprint residues to produce an
intense dye called “Ruhemann’s purple”

• Can be considered as the hydrate of indane- 1,2,3-trione (triketohydrindene hydrate).

• A method used in developing of latent prints that is almost as effective and as popular
as cyanoacrylate fuming. Should be used in a well-ventilated environment as the smell
can be strong, and is applied either by a spray or dipping the evidence in a bath of the
solution.

• Based on the reaction between the Ninhydrin solution and the amino acids present in
the perspiration one leaves behind on porous surfaces such as unprocessed papers,
cardboard, raw wood, and other absorbent surfaces.

• Staining the latent a deep to light purple color, which can last a few days to months,
one must mark and photograph the latents before they fade away.

• Safety wise, Ninhydrin will also stain the forensic investigator's skin that comes in
contact with the solution.

• While these stains can be washed off using a solution of Clorox in distilled water, it is
highly recommended that when dealing with this chemical to always wear a protective
mask as well as gloves