Ardrox
Definition
A commercial fluorescent dye mixture (originally for aircraft-skin crack detection) that fluoresces broadly under 365 nm UV illumination; used as a post-CA dye stain on surfaces with low UV background fluorescence.
- Original use
- Aircraft-skin crack detection dye
- Excitation
- 365 nm UV illumination
- Forensic use
- Post-CA fluorescent dye stain
- Best suited surfaces
- Low UV background fluorescence
Common questions
Why is Ardrox applied after cyanoacrylate fuming rather than used alone?+
Cyanoacrylate fuming first develops and hardens the latent print's ridge detail into a stable polymer, and the dye stain is then applied to that developed print to make it fluoresce under UV, improving contrast for photography, especially on multicoloured or patterned surfaces.
How do examiners decide whether Ardrox is the right dye stain for a given surface?+
They consider the surface's own background fluorescence under UV; Ardrox works well where that background is low, but on surfaces that fluoresce strongly on their own, an examiner may choose a different stain or a different excitation wavelength to get usable contrast.
Related terms
- 1:1 Macro Photography
- Photography at a reproduction ratio of 1:1 (image sensor size equals subject size); the mandatory standard for all latent fingerprint photography before...
- Alternate Light Source (ALS)
- A device emitting light at selected wavelengths (typically 415 to 535 nm) used to detect biological fluids that fluoresce or absorb light...
- Barrier Filter
- An optical long-pass filter placed over the camera lens and worn as goggles by the examiner during ALS examination; blocks the excitation...
- Basic Yellow 40 (BY40)
- A fluorescent dye (excitation 450-490 nm, emission ~530 nm) applied immediately after CA fuming with a simple aqueous rinse to remove excess;...
- Cyanoacrylate (CA) Fuming
- The development of latent prints on non-porous surfaces by exposing the item to ethyl or methyl cyanoacrylate vapour in a humidity-controlled environment;...
- Ethyl Cyanoacrylate (ECA)
- The active monomer in forensic CA fuming products and most consumer Super Glue formulations; undergoes anionic polymerisation initiated by nucleophiles (water, amines)...
- Inherent Fluorescence
- The luminescent signal from latent print residue itself under ALS illumination, without any development agent; primarily from sebaceous components such as squalene...
- Lumicyano
- A proprietary Foster + Freeman formulation that combines a fluorescent CA monomer with standard CA developer, enabling simultaneous development and fluorescent marking...
- Rhodamine 6G
- A fluorescent dye applied as a post-treatment to cyanoacrylate-developed fingerprints; excited at 530 nm (green), it emits at 565-590 nm (yellow-orange), greatly...