Issue 22, 2015

Evaluation and validation of ion mobility spectrometry for presumptive testing targeting the organic constituents of firearms discharge residue

Abstract

Firearms discharge residue (FDR) refers to both the inorganic particulates (GSR) and the organic constituents (OGSR) formed when a firearm is discharged. Currently, there are few if any viable presumptive or screening tests amenable to detection of FDR on skin. Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is already widely deployed in law enforcement and homeland security for use as a portable/presumptive detector for narcotics and explosives. The goal of this project was to evaluate IMS for use as a screening device to detect OGSR on hand swabs. Two instruments were thoroughly tested and figures of merit, including detection thresholds, were established. Sample stability was also characterized with significant degradation seen when samples were stored at room temperature. Based on the target compounds and media used, the stability studies suggest a holding time limit of days or a few weeks. Results showed that given proper and specialized QA/QC procedures, IMS can be successfully utilized for screening purposes without requiring modification of instrumentation. A well-suited method for daily monitoring was demonstrated through the use of control charts providing a means to track variability in peak intensity over time. Analysis of more than 200 skin swab samples demonstrated that pattern matching data analysis is preferred to peak-based methods when attempting to ascertain if a person recently fired a weapon.

Graphical abstract: Evaluation and validation of ion mobility spectrometry for presumptive testing targeting the organic constituents of firearms discharge residue

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Sep 2015
Accepted
14 Oct 2015
First published
19 Oct 2015

Anal. Methods, 2015,7, 9683-9691

Evaluation and validation of ion mobility spectrometry for presumptive testing targeting the organic constituents of firearms discharge residue

B. Yeager, K. Bustin, J. Stewart, R. Dross and S. Bell, Anal. Methods, 2015, 7, 9683 DOI: 10.1039/C5AY02417J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements