https://www.sjsu.edu/people/steven.lee/courses/c3/s2/New%20Non%20destructive%20confirmatory%20tests-1.pdf

Analysis of body fluids for forensic purposes: from laboratory testing to non-destructive rapid confirmatory identification at a crime scene.

X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry is a nondestructive, rapid, simultaneous multi‐element analytical methodology for solid or liquid samples. Its applications are broad and XRF spectra cover most elements, with a dynamic range from 100% down to the µg/g level. X-ray fluorescence is a well‐established laboratory‐based method, but it is also one of the few atomic spectrometric techniques that can be used for field portable instrumentation. In this manuscript, the recent advances in portable XRF spectrometry are reviewed with 80 references. The principles and instrumentation are briefly discussed, and many applications of the technique are described, including the analysis of soils, sediments, waters, liquid wastes, air, dust, archaeological artifacts, works of art, paint, metals, alloys, minerals, and forensic samples. Portable XRF is especially suitable for fast screening applications when the specific analytes of interest are unknown. The technique does not have accuracy and limit of detection...

Recent Advances in Portable X‐Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

Forensic body fluid identification and differentiation by Raman spectroscopy

Body fluids are evidence of great interest in forensics because they allow identification of individuals through the study of DNA. After reviewing the tests and the methods that are currently being used by forensic practitioners for the detection of body fluids (e.g., blood, semen, saliva, vaginal fluid, urine and sweat), and after showing their main drawbacks and limitations, this work focuses on the review of emerging spectrometric techniques applied for the forensic analysis of body fluids. These techniques include the use of ultraviolet-visible, infrared (IR), Raman, X-ray fluorescence and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry for investigating blood, semen, saliva, urine, vaginal fluid or sweat. Although all these spectrometric techniques seem to have a high potential to differentiate body fluids prior to DNA extraction, IR and Raman spectroscopy have shown the most promising results for discriminating stains from body fluids.

/pdf/emerging-spectrometric-techniques-for-the-forensic-analysis-1gt9e98a5o.pdf

Emerging spectrometric techniques for the forensic analysis of body fluids

Tooth-colored restorative materials are increasingly being placed in the practice of modern dentistry, replacing traditional materials such as amalgam. Many restorative resins have distinct elemental compositions that allow identification of brand. Not only are resins classifiable by elemental content, but they also survive extreme conditions such as cremation. This is of significance to the forensic odontologist because resin uniqueness adds another level of certainty in victim identification, especially when traditional means are exhausted. In this three-part study, unique combinations of resins were placed in six human cadavers (total 70 restorations). Simulated ante-mortem dental records were created. In a blind experiment, a portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) unit was used to locate and identify the resin brands placed in the dentition. The technique was successful in location and brand identification of 53 of the restorations, which was sufficient to enable positive victim identification among the study group. This part of the experiment demonstrated the utility of portable XRF in detection and analysis of restorative materials for victim identification in field or morgue settings. Identification of individuals after cremation is a more difficult task, as the dentition is altered by shrinkage and fragmentation, and may not be comparable with a dental chart. Identification of processed cremains is a much greater challenge, as comminution obliterates all structural relationships. Under both circumstances, it is the nonbiological artifacts that aid in identification. Restorative resin fillings can survive these conditions, and can still be named by brand utilizing elemental analysis. In a continuation of the study, the cadavers were cremated in a cremation retort under standard mortuary conditions. XRF was again used to analyze retrieved resins and to identify the individuals based on restorative materials known to exist from dental records. The cremains were then processed and the analysis was repeated to determine whether restorative resins could be found under this extreme condition. Under both circumstances, sufficient surviving resin material was found to distinguish positively each individual in the study group. This study showed the utility of XRF as an analytical tool for forensic odontology and also the significance of the role of restorative resins in victim identification, even after cremation.

Identification Through X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis of Dental Restorative Resin Materials: A Comprehensive Study of Noncremated, Cremated, and Processed-Cremated Individuals*

Elyse Gottschang

Papers

Crime scene investigations using portable, non-destructive space exploration technology