Scientists develop new forensic method, for the first time reveals the age of the traces of blood and fingerprints.

Even if a criminal puts traces of blood or fingerprints at a crime scene, it is often difficult to prove that he was there at the time of the crime.

so far it has not been technically possible for investigators to determine the age of biological traces.

this is Why researchers from the Department of Retskemi at the Department of forensic science now, among other things, together with the National Forensic Center (NKC) by the national Police in developing a new method of analysis.

- Manage our project, the police will be able to tidsbestemme the track and see if the person was there at the time of the crime, says assistant professor Kirstine Lykke Nielsen from the Department of Retskemi. She is the leader of the project TraceAge.

There have been many previous attempts to put the age on the biological track. But only now has the measuring technology and methods for data processing reached a level where it is possible.

A biological trace consists of a complex mixture of substances. Each disappear at different speeds over time. Researchers must identify the substances and thus develop a method that can determine the track age.

The biological degradation of the fingerprints and the blood, similar to the degradation in foods. Therefore, the Department of food science, also in the project.

the National Forensic Center (NKC) under the national Police examine the annually button 9500 fingerprints and almost 2000 traces of blood. They see great possibilities in the method.

- We can better rule out the innocent from having been involved in a crime. But it can also help us to focus on what persons we may be liable for various things at a crime scene, says Stine Rasmussen, project manager at NKC.

the Project requires the analysis of large volumes of data. That is why the Center for Bioinformatics at the University of Aarhus also with in the project.

- We are fairly confident and have already made successful pilot tests, where we can say whether a track is one-two days old or older. But we hope in the first place to get all the way down on half-days. Today, one can not say how old a fingerprint is, says Kirstine Lykke Nielsen.

/ritzau/