Fingerprints Can Reveal Drug Use, Medical History

taku · Kickflip Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Posts: 2868 City: Central FL

From Discovery News: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/12/10/fingerprint-drugs.html

The new technique attaches the iron oxide particles to antibodies and suspends them both in a liquid solution, which is then drizzled over a fingerprint. If the chemical that a specific antibody targets is present, the molecules latch onto it and glow.

So far the scientists can detect five different drugs: THC (marijuana), cocaine, nicotine, methadone and a derivative of methadone. Other drugs, particularly opium-based drugs like heroine or morphine, should also be detectable, since antibodies already exist for them as well.

Drugs aren't the only chemicals the new tests could detect. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other medical conditions produce specific chemicals also secreted in sweat and oil. By tweaking the antibodies on the particles, forensic scientists could test for a variety of medical conditions. This could help police track down a suspect by, say, watching the local kidney dialysis clinic if the suspect has kidney failure.

On the other side, prosecutors could also use additional fingerprint information to convict criminals, or defenders could use it to help keep clients out of jail. If a fingerprint has the antibodies for, say, a genetic disease that a client doesn't have, a defender could use that information to raise doubts about the prosecutor's case.

On the flip side, what ethical issues may arise from this technology?

More from the article: The technique will certainly help police gain more information about criminals, but there are privacy concerns for law abiding citizens, said Cooks.

"If I come to your office and leave a fingerprint on your desk, you now have a biomedical sample of me," said Cooks. "You can then proceed to find out as much information about me as you want," from what lotion you used that morning to what drugs you did last night.

Le Jalapeno · Guest

taku, oh no! My work uses fingerprints to clock in!

I'm clean though Cool

i think

kyle · Posted: Dec 10, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject:

Le Jalapeno, don't lie to us...and yourself Laughing

j/k j/k

RxSkater · Posted: Dec 10, 2008 1:06 pm Post subject:

how long do drug last in your "fingureprints" that would suck, damn scientist destroying our fun

Montgomery · Backside 180 Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 976 City: Rogers

Dude that's F-ed up

LFdisciple · Posted: Dec 10, 2008 2:18 pm Post subject:

RxSkater, im with you.
does it stay on your fingerprint permanently if you toked a time or two...or alot. or does it leave your system (if thats what we call it in this case) after like 30 days or something

De Oro · Backside 180 Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 1064 City: Austin

yay patriot act

Rolling Eyes

taku · Kickflip Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Posts: 2868 City: Central FL

I assume it's like anything else... hair and blood and urine samples... it eventually won't show up, but the article didn't discuss timeframes.

Guy · Backside 180 Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 842 City: Orillia

I saw that on CSI..

oooooooooooooooooo Smash

LFdisciple · Posted: Dec 10, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject:

taku, i thought hair showed like every drug youve used in your lifetime or something like that.....idk my friend told me that a long time ago. i think he said it like the first time i smoked weed haha

Parker · Backside 180 Joined: 14 Oct 2007 Posts: 1731 City: Norman

LFdisciple, hair will retain THC and show how often youve smoked for the length of the time that hairs been there, could work for other drugs to but haven't heard of it

ZackFL(BRE) · Backside 180 Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 2386 City: Tampa

Parker, works for other drugs too.

JeffKnox · Posted: Dec 11, 2008 11:07 am Post subject:

LFdisciple, just cut your hair and your fine lol

taku · Kickflip Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Posts: 2868 City: Central FL

POPTART · 360 flip Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 7621

jeff knox - you have to cut off all of your hair
weed shows up on any hair on your body
but there are special shampoos that actually work
my little bro's HS dose random testing and so my mom got him the shampoo and he passed. so my parents hung his paperwork on the fridge . lol

cheapskate · Backside 180 Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 1424 City: Baytown

POPTART,

POPTART · 360 flip Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 7621

cheapskate, they are so proud Rolling Eyes

im going to take a picture for you guys

not even kidding

-=AlexXx=- · Posted: Dec 11, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject:

that is absolutly insane. Smash

LFdisciple · Posted: Dec 11, 2008 10:18 pm Post subject:

POPTART, the actually took a strand of his hair instead of making him piss in a cup?

thats a crazy school

POPTART · 360 flip Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 7621

lf -

yeah

its a private catholic school, they are SUPAR natzis!

i went there but before the drug test, maybe thats why they tested him lol