Intelligent Fingerprinting detects drug from a fingerprint

(10/09/2010)

Intelligent Fingerprinting has developed an innovative test to simultaneously detect identity and drug use. The technology has a wide range of potential applications in forensics and policing. Intelligent Fingerprinting enables forensic scientists to extract more information from the fingerprints they routinely collect. Knowing if their suspect was taking illegal drugs can help them build a profile of who they are looking for.

Using urine or blood samples to detect illegal drug use has the associated problem that samples can be switched, either intentionally as someone tries to clear their name, or accidentally through mislabelling.

The ability to perform rapid and non-invasive drug tests on site is also of great potential interest within the prison service. Drug use amongst inmates is a serious problem, and this technology will eliminate the possibility of prisoners who are not taking drugs providing samples for those who are. In this way, Intelligent Fingerprinting could support programmes to rid prisons of drugs.

The technology works by detecting drug metabolites which are secreted through the sweat glands found in finger tips. These secretions will contain metabolites of the drug which can be used as markers to detect anyone who has recently taken drugs such as cannabis and cocaine.

Antibodies linked to magnetic particles are used to detect the specific markers in sweat. Excess antibodies are removed easily with a magnet, and then particles bound to the specific drug targets are visualised using a simple camera linked to a computer. A coloured image of the fingerprint means a positive result. The high-resolution image allows confirmation of the subject’s identity using the standard matching-software widely used by police forces.

Intelligent Fingerprinting is a spin-out company from the University of East Anglia and was founded by Dr Jerry Walker and Professor David Russell. Jerry says, “We can detect whether someone has taken substances such as cannabis and cocaine in just 15 minutes. The suspect is asked to give a fingerprint, which is then analysed using our IntelliPrint™ assay kit. As well as detecting the substance, the high-quality fingerprint is also suitable for confirming the identity of the individual. This means we provide a far more secure chain of evidence and eliminate the danger of samples getting mixed up.”

The technique detects metabolites of the drug that are produced when it is broken down by the body, so washing the hands only temporarily produces a negative test result. A short time later the same metabolites begin to reappear. Using metabolites as markers overcomes any claims that the drugs were present due to contact and not ingestion, injection or inhalation. Jerry says, “We can now reliably detect a range of the most important illicit substances and other informative biological markers in fingerprint samples. The samples are easy to store and transport, and are much less hazardous than saliva, urine or blood samples. We regularly store fingerprints for weeks, and because the small molecules we detect are trapped in lipids they don’t evaporate.”

There are many more problems Intelligent Fingerprinting could help solve, in illegal drug detection and beyond. Future plans include developing a rapid, roadside drug test to tackle the threat of drug driving, and tests to monitor whether patients undergoing specialist therapeutic treatment have taken their medication.

Related topics:  Crime and Fraud Prevention   Fingerprint biometrics 

Print version | Email to a friend | Related articles

Data breaches: Trends, costs and best practices gives you all the latest information on securing personal and corporate data, key recommendations for immediate action to improve data security, and how to respond to data breaches.

Other Security news and resources