Technical note: A preliminary assessment of UV-C imaging using the Full Spectrum Imaging System (FSIS-II) for the detection of latent fingermarks

Abstract

The Full Spectrum Imaging System (FSIS-II) was assessed for the detection of latent fingermarks on a variety of substrates, specifically focusing on UV-C imaging for untreated marks and those that have been treated with cyanoacrylate (CA). The use of UV-C was effective at the detection of latent fingermarks on a variety of substrates and UV-C imaging may be effective when UV-A does not provide any fingermark detections on thermal paper. A Phase 2 and a small Phase 3 trials on aluminium cans were carried out with a detection sequence of UV-C imaging, CA fuming, UV-C imaging, UV-A imaging and BY40. For Phase 2 laboratory trials, the use of initial UV-C reflection was effective at removing the background and was a useful tool for initial screening. The use of UV-C was superior to UV-A after CA fuming and provided the highest overall number of high-quality marks. For phase 3 trials, the results showed that BY40 fluorescence was marginally more effective than UV-C imaging of CA-treated marks. This preliminary study shows that the FSIS-II and UV-C imaging can complement other methods for the detection of latent fingermarks.

Keywords: BY40; Cyanoacrylate; Longwave UV-A; Phase 2 laboratory trial; Phase 3 pseudo-operational trial; Shortwave UV-C.