Visualization of Fingermarks Deposits on Untreated Thermal Paper Exploiting the Near Infrared Luminescence. Issue 1 (20th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cappiello, Pietro; Zampa, Francesco; Siciliano, Maria; Amata, Biagio; Di Palma, Renato; Modica, Martino; Lazzaro, Antonio Pasquale
• Is Part Of: Journal of forensic sciences. Volume 65:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 238
• Page End: 247
• Publication Date: 2019-05-20
• Subjects: forensic science -- thermal paper -- fingermarks -- NIR luminescence -- ultraviolet -- nondestructive method; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; 363.2505
• DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1198

Abstract

Abstract: Thermal paper is widely used as a print medium for different applications but it constitutes a tricky substrate for fingermark visualization. An earlier work ( J Forensic Sci 2015;60 :1034) reported how to visualize fingermarks on untreated thermal paper by illuminating the item with a UV‐A light source. In the present paper, the potential of the near infrared (NIR) luminescence has been tested on thermal paper compared to the mentioned method. A controlled study was carried out utilizing eccrine enriched fingermarks. The promising outcomes obtained were further confirmed by performing a pseudo‐operational trial. Data clearly showed that the use of the NIR filter gave better results. Finally, preliminary tests suggested a different mechanism of reaction induced by fingermarks with respect to the one behind the thermal printing. Thus, NIR luminescence represents a refinement to the suite of optical examination processes, including the potential to increase the number of marks recovered in a noncontact, nondestructive way.