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Lipid composition of fingermark residue and donor classification using GC/MS
Aline Girod1, Céline Weyermann1
1Institut de Police Scientifique, University of Lausanne, Bâtochime, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Forensic Science International
|March 29, 2014
Summary
This study characterized fingermark lipid composition, revealing lower variability within donors than between them. A new classification model groups donors by lipid content, aiding forensic research.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Lipids in fingermark residue are crucial for forensic enhancement and dating.
- Understanding lipid variability (intra- and inter-donor) is essential but previously uncharacterized.
- This study addresses the need for detailed analysis of fingermark lipid initial composition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the initial lipid composition of fingermark residue from 25 donors.
- To identify and quantify specific lipids and their correlations within fingermarks.
- To develop a donor classification model based on lipid profiles for forensic applications.
Main Methods:
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for lipid profiling.
- Quantitative analysis of selected lipids (palmitic acid, squalene, cholesterol, etc.).
- Hierarchical cluster analysis on pre-treated data for donor classification.
Main Results:
- 104 lipids were detected, with 43 reported for the first time.
- Intra-donor lipid variability was significantly lower than inter-donor variability.
- A classification model successfully grouped donors into "poor" and "rich" lipid categories with 86% accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Fingermark lipid composition exhibits distinct intra- and inter-donor variability patterns.
- Data pre-treatment and hierarchical clustering enable objective donor classification.
- The developed model can assist researchers in selecting donors based on specific lipid profiles for forensic studies.
