Optimization and Development of a Human Scent Collection Method

摘要

Canines have been used by law enforcement to detect human scent, narcotics, and explosives. Matching human scent using analytical instruments would add credibility to a canine's response. Traditionally, air passed through cotton pads has been used to collect scent at crime scenes. While this collection technique preserves forensic evidence and is adequate for canines, chemical analysis of scent samples may require better collection techniques. Optimization of the collection of 10 human scent compounds on cotton pads was performed by adjusting the collection flow rate and extraction time. Maximum recovery (1.8%) was achieved at a low flow rate (50 ft/min) and a short extraction time (54 secs), 7.6 cm from the analyte source. Alternative collection media were tested and revealed that use of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) collection techniques increase the recovery (4.4%) of human scent compounds. Advanced collection techniques, such as SPME, will be needed for chemical analysis of human scent.