AFTE Store - Determination of Gunshot Residue Lost for Atomic Absorption Analysis Due to Use of Adhesive Lifts Prior to Cotton Swab Sampling

Atomic absorption spectrometry is frequently used to detect trace levels of metallic elements associated with gunshot residues. The sampling medium is usually cotton swabs moistened wth a weak acid. In some gunshot residue collection kits, an adhesive lift is performed for scanning electron microscopy prior to the swabs being collected for atomic absorption. This type of sampling removes some of the material which would be collected by the cotton swabs. To determine the amount of residue lost in adhesive disc sampling, a test was designed to measure the amount of residue collected from a shooter’s hand when the swabs were used alone, and when the swabs were used after adhesive disc sampling.