Forensic Science Analytical Equipment: A Comprehensive Overview

There are dozens of pieces of analytical equipment used in forensic science. Depending upon the forensic specialties involved, there is equipment to analyze everything from fingerprints, blood, DNA, ballistics and documents.

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

• Atomic absorption spectroscopy is used to detect trace metals for profiling gunshot residues. This machine is also used to measure arsenic levels in teeth.

Gas chromatography / Mass spectroscopy

• This machine analyzes samples to detect drugs in blood, characteristics of smoke (arson investigations) and the chemical composition of sweat.

Raman Spectral Comparator

• Used to analyze inks and dyes, one purpose is to examine money in counterfeiting cases. Since each ink or dye has unique spectral characteristics, the machine compares a standard sample to a test sample.

Glass Refractive Index Measurement

• This machine (called the GRIM) is used to compare glass fragments. The fragments are crushed, mixed with silicon oil and heated. If two samples match, they are from the same piece of glass.

E-FIT

• E-FIT is the trademarked name of a system to reconstruct a face from eye witness accounts. Before it was computerized, the system consisted of a collection of overlapping transparencies for hair, eyes, noses, and other facial features. The computerized system works much the same way.