New Solvent-Based Method Preserves Fingerprints and DNA on Forensic Adhesive Tape
South Korean researchers develop a solvent-based method to preserve latent fingerprints and touch DNA during forensic adhesive tape separation.
A research team from the Catholic University of Pusan in South Korea has developed a solvent-assisted method designed to separate adhesive tape from surfaces while preserving two important forms of forensic evidence: latent fingerprints and touch DNA.
The study, published online in the Journal of Forensic Sciences on 5 November 2026, addresses a recurring problem in crime scene examination. Adhesive tapes recovered from cardboard and other porous materials may contain fingerprints and biological traces, but removing the tape can distort fingerprint ridge patterns or damage material needed for DNA profiling.
A Different Approach to Tape Separation
The researchers investigated a mixed-solvent formulation containing dichloromethane and ethyl lactate. Their experiments identified a mixture containing 20% dichloromethane and 80% ethyl lactate by volume, designated DCM/EL_28, as the most effective condition among those evaluated.
The method was tested on three commercially available adhesive tapes attached to corrugated cardboard. The team compared its performance with two commercial adhesive-release products, Un-Stick and PIC 10.
According to the published abstract, the experimental solvent mixture provided better adhesive control and less substrate damage. The resulting latent fingerprints also showed higher minutiae counts and Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)-derived similarity scores than those obtained with the comparison products, which produced varying degrees of ridge distortion or adhesive disruption.
Preserving Two Types of Evidence
An important aspect of the research was the examination of DNA after fingerprint development.
The researchers successfully recovered DNA from all tested tape samples. Most produced complete or near-complete short tandem repeat (STR) profiles containing a high proportion of the alleles expected from the corresponding donor reference profiles.
This is significant because fingerprint examination and DNA profiling are often complementary investigative processes. A method that preserves both forms of evidence could help forensic laboratories obtain more information from a single exhibit instead of compromising one examination while performing another.
What Remains to Be Established
The researchers describe the work as a proof-of-concept study, not a fully validated operational procedure.
The experiments involved three common tape types attached to corrugated cardboard under controlled conditions. Further testing is needed across different adhesive formulations, substrates, environmental exposure periods, aged evidence and realistic casework samples.
Dichloromethane also requires appropriate occupational and chemical safety controls, making laboratory risk assessment essential before practical adoption.
The findings offer a promising approach to sequential fingerprint and DNA examination of adhesive tape evidence. However, broader validation will determine whether the technique can become a dependable option for routine forensic laboratories.