In forensic investigations, fingerprint ridge patterns are frequently used to identify individuals. This identification is limited by the completeness of the deposited print as well as the integrity of the original pattern. Thus, research into alternative methods to distinguish individuals, such as the chemical analysis of fingerprint residue composition, could be beneficial in identifying perpetrators. In our study, qualitative and quantitative analysis were used to investigate similarities and differences in the chemical composition of fingerprint residues from various individuals. Fingerprint samples were deposited on glass filters and extracted using dichloromethane. The chemical components from these samples were then separated and identified by GC-MS. The peaks in each chromatogram were integrated to quantify all components in the sample. Statistical techniques, including principal component and cluster analysis, were performed to discover correlations that exist in the data. The ultimate goal of this study is to identify individuals by statistically matching new fingerprint samples with previous samples from those same individuals.

Identification of individuals by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of fingerprint residues

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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