ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 October 1982
Page Count: 6

A New Method for Recovering Latent Fingerprints from Skin
Meloan, CE
Professors of chemistry, Kansas University, KS

Lambert, JL
Professors of chemistry, Kansas University, KS

Feldman, MA
E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Chemicals and Pigments Division, Jackson Laboratory, NJ

(Received 16 December 1981; accepted 20 January 1982)

Abstract

The developed method for detecting fingerprints on live human skin involves first fuming the suspected area with iodine, and then placing a 35-mm clear plastic strip with a leuco crystal violet coating and a trace of water over the fumed area. A few seconds later a dark purple reproduction of the ridge pattern develops. It is a stable direct positive and can be mounted in a 35-ram slide mount for direct viewing. Readable prints may be obtained up to 1 h after impression on live human skin and two or three lifts may be obtained from the same print.

Keywords:
eriminalistics, fingerprints, skin, crystal violet

Paper ID: JFS12196J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12196J
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