title: Lumicyano™: a new fluorescent cyanoacrylate for a one-step luminescent latent fingermark development.
abstract: Latent fingermarks developed by cyanoacrylate fuming often lack contrast; therefore further enhancement is required, such as dye staining. This second step is part of the conventional detection sequences performed by forensics practitioners. Dye-staining or powder dusting aims at improving contrast and at increasing the legibility of details, yet their use may at times be limited. Indeed powder dusting may not be effective due to unexpected adherence to the background, and poor affinity to the cyanoacrylate. In the same way staining processes can dye a whole semi-porous surface or may wash the marks. To avoid that second step, a new luminescent cyanoacrylate (Lumicyano™) which allows one-step development without changing the fuming chamber settings (80% humidity rate, 120°C fuming temperature) was developed and assessed. This study aimed at comparing Lumicyano™ to a conventional two-step process. A detailed sensitivity study was conducted on glass slides, as well as the processing of various non-porous and semi-porous substrates, usually considered as problematic for a dye staining step. The results indicate that Lumicyano™ detects fingermarks with equal or better sensitivity and ridge details than currently used cyanoacrylate. Secondly in luminescent mode, good ridges clarity and excellent contrast are observed, even if Lumicyano™ is sometimes less bright than the two-step process. Furthermore, conventional enhancement can still be carried out if needed. As a conclusion, Lumicyano™ makes it possible to avoid an enhancement step which can be detrimental to further examinations, particularly on rough or semi-porous surfaces.
authors: Crime Scene Technology, 2b - 21 Allée du Cercle, 59650 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France. Electronic address: cosimo.prete@crimescenetechnology.fr.
authors: Cosimo
authors: C
authors: Prete
authors: Laurent
authors: L
authors: Galmiche
authors: Fifonsi-Gwladys
authors: FG
authors: Quenum-Possy-Berry
authors: Clémence
authors: C
authors: Allain
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Thiburce
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Colard
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents; D003487:Cyanoacrylates; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016062:Porosity; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013499:Surface Properties; D013995:Time; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D003487:Cyanoacrylates
keywords: Dye staining; Fluorescent cyanoacrylate; Latent fingermark; Lumicyano; Non-porous surfaces; Semi-porous substrates