The effectiveness of strong afterglow phosphor powder in the detection of fingermarks

There are numerous types of fluorescent fingermark powders or reagents used with the visualization of latent fingermarks deposited on multicolored substrate surfaces that can present a contrast problem if developed with regular fingermark powders. The developed fingermarks can show bright fluorescence upon exposure to laser, ultraviolet light and other light sources, These kinds of methods share a common concern, where surfaces and other substrates may fluoresce also. To overcome this concern, we have developed a phosphor powder which offers a strong afterglow effect which aid in the establishment of better fingermark detection. With the advent of a phosphor powder no special devices are required and the results obtained from fresh or a few days aged latent fingermarks left on: non-porous; semi-porous and also on some porous surfaces have been good. The strong afterglow effect offered by phosphor powder is also applicable for cyanoacrylate fumed fingermarks. Lift off and photography procedures of the developed fingermarks are incorporated in this paper. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.