ASIS International (ASIS) Professional Certified Investigator Practice Exam

What is cyanoacrylate fuming primarily used for?

1. Developing fingerprints on porous surfaces

2. Creating a chemical reaction with latent prints

3. Enhancing visibility of latent fingerprints

4. Providing a protective coating on prints

The correct answer is: Enhancing visibility of latent fingerprints

Cyanoacrylate fuming is primarily used for enhancing the visibility of latent fingerprints. This technique involves the application of cyanoacrylate vapor, which reacts with moisture and amino acids present in latent fingerprints. As the vapors condense on the surface where the latent print is located, they form a solid white polymer that outlines the fingerprint, effectively making it visible for further analysis or processing. This method is particularly valuable in forensic investigations because it can reveal prints on a variety of non-porous surfaces such as metal, glass, and plastic, where traditional fingerprint development methods might not be effective. The increase in visibility provided by cyanoacrylate fuming allows investigators to photograph and document the fingerprints, thereby preserving evidence for analysis. In the context of the other options, while developing fingerprints on porous surfaces could involve different techniques like chemical reagents, cyanoacrylate fuming is not typically effective on porous materials such as paper or cardboard. Furthermore, while the chemical reaction occurs, the primary purpose remains the enhancement of the print's visibility rather than just the reaction itself. Lastly, cyanoacrylate does leave a protective coating but that is not its primary use; the main goal is to make the latent fingerprints readable and