Testing the effectiveness of Lumicyano™ with CYANO-SHOT™ components: A novel HEAT solution

Abstract

Cyanoacrylate fuming is a process by which latent prints are visualized on non-porous surfaces (Yamashita and French, 2011). Following the polymerization of cyanoacrylate molecules on top of a latent print, RAM, a fluorescent dye stain, is applied to further visualize the print with a forensic light source (Yamashita and French, 2011). There are situations in which the FBI’s Hazardous Evidence Analysis Team (HEAT) is prohibited from using adequate amounts of RAM, thereby establishing a need to find an effective substitute. This study tested the efficacy of using Lumicyano™ products in conjunction with the CYANO-SHOT™ products already used by HEAT to develop latent prints that fluoresce under forensic light sources without RAM application. Testing demonstrated that Lumicyano™ products used in conjunction with CYANO-SHOT™ products were effective at developing latent prints.

Keywords

• Lumicyano™
• CYANO-SHOT™
• Friction ridge
• Latent print