UK researchers extract drug residue from gel-lifted fingerprint biometrics

A new breakthrough in a familiar technology could help researchers use fingerprint biometrics to solve cold cases. A press release from Loughborough University says a team of analytical scientists has demonstrated, for the first time, how to detect drug residue on gel-lifted fingerprints.

This is particularly significant for sexual assault investigations, since one of the drugs in question is the sleeping pill Zolpidem, which has been used to spike drinks. The team was able to use a gelatine surface …

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