Detection of Bodily Fluids in Fingermark Impressions using ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy

Sunday, March 8, 2026 4:00 PM to 4:20 PM · 20 min. (America/Chicago)
Room 221D
Oral
Bioanalytical & Life Science

Information

Detection of bodily fluids within fingermark impressions provides a valuable dual source of forensic evidence, combining biometric and biological information. In this study, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was applied to detect saliva and blood in fingermark impressions and to evaluate factors influencing detection. Optimization was performed using impressions from two donors (one male, one female), with controlled sebum deposition achieved by varying the number of forehead rubs (1, 5, 10, and 15). Fingermark features were visible across all conditions, but the clearest ridge detail was obtained with 15 rubs. To minimize variability, the force applied during impression generation was carefully controlled and kept constant across all experiments. The effect of fluid deposition and drying was then assessed by allowing saliva and blood to dry on the fingertip for 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 seconds prior to impression. ATR-FTIR spectra revealed fluid-specific signatures and demonstrated how drying time influenced detection sensitivity. These preliminary results establish critical parameters for optimizing ATR-FTIR detection of dried bodily fluids in fingermarks and provide insights into its potential application at crime scenes.
Day of Week
Sunday
Session or Presentation
Presentation
Session Number
OR-31-05
Application
Forensics/Homeland Security
Methodology
Infrared Spectroscopy
Primary Focus
Application
Morning or Afternoon
Afternoon

Register

No Registered for Pittcon? Register Now!

Join the event!

See all the content and easy-to-use features by logging in or registering!