The Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists (MAAFS) annual meeting is being held later this month from May 14th through the 18th. MAAFS is one of several regional/state forensic science associations in the United States. Regional meetings are great for scientists to attend because they usually require less travel than attending the national AAFS meeting, and they provide a more personal forum for presentations and also networking with scientists from that particular region. MAAFS is also a great forum for student presenters, as scholarships are awarded annually. I will be presenting on Thursday, May 17thon the benefits of including fluorescence Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) in the battery of analyses that are typically applied to tape examination. Fluorescence HSI adds value to tape examination, because it is a macroscopic analysis that provides both visual and spectral results, requires little samples preparation, is non destructive, and can allow for a quick elimination in a comparison of known and questioned tapes.
Presentation Abstract:
Current methods of tape examination include a wide variety of analytical techniques, however there is a void in the use of macroscopic fluorescence analysis. Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) used in fluorescence mode has shown discrimination power in the analysis of tapes, and offers significant potential as a complimentary tool to the protocol of standard tape examination. Fluorescence HSI is a nondestructive method that can detect differences based on chemical composition of tape adhesive and backing. A variety of statistical evaluations are applicable to HSI data enabling the potential for a quantitative comparison of tape samples. This talk will discuss the application and an example of tape examination with the inclusion of fluorescence HSI in the tape examination protocol.