![April 10, 2024 Researchers have announced a breakthrough method that can detect drug substances in fingerprints taken from crime scenes, potentially providing new insights into cold cases. This technique is sheath flow probe electrospray ionization. Provided by: Meg Cox MACox@lboro.ac.uk](https://i0.wp.com/images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/19203519/SEI_200614369.jpg?resize=749%2C498&ssl=1)
Researchers use chemicals to extract drug residue from fingerprints
loughborough university
Forensic scientists have developed a new technique that can detect drug and explosive residue in fingerprint samples from crime scenes.
“Information about the presence of drug particles is a largely untapped resource,” he says. james reynolds At Loughborough University, UK. That's because investigators use a thin layer of gelatin called a gel lifter to lift the fingerprints. These introduce chemicals into the sample, making it difficult to identify the presence of trace amounts of drugs or explosives on the sample.
Source: www.newscientist.com