Development of artificial latent fingerprint solution using a novel lipid composition and printing

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Reproducible test materials are crucial for evaluating latent fingerprint development techniques.
• Existing methods often lack realistic simulation of natural fingerprint composition.
• Standardized artificial prints are needed for controlled forensic research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel artificial latent fingerprint solution.
• To incorporate lipid components (sweat, sebum) and amino acids for realistic simulation.
• To create a standardized material for validating fingerprint development methods.

Main Methods:

• A solution combining human-derived lipids and amino acids was formulated using n-hexane and isopropyl alcohol.
• The solution was loaded into printer cartridges for standardized deposition on various substrates (A4 paper, OHP film, thermal paper).
• Established fingerprint development reagents were applied to porous, nonporous, and thermal surfaces.

Main Results:

• The artificial prints demonstrated broad compatibility across porous, nonporous, and thermal substrates.
• Clear ridge detail and identifiable minutiae were consistently observed with most reagents.
• Developed prints were identical, ensuring high reproducibility for controlled testing.

Conclusions:

• The proposed artificial fingerprint solution provides a realistic and standardized tool for forensic validation.
• This method is effective for evaluating fingerprint development techniques on challenging surfaces like thermal paper.
• The findings support the use of this artificial print for reproducible research in latent fingerprint analysis.