CODIS Chemistry DNA-Nuclear DNA-Mitochondrial Trace Evidence Cryptanalysis Racketeering Firearms/Toolmarks Latent Print Questioned Documents Chemical Biological Sciences Explosives Evidence Response Team Hazardous Material Response Photographic & Imaging Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Forensic Science Support Crime Scene Survey Forensic Facial Imaging Evidence Control Training

Introduction to Hairs and Fibers

Course Length: Two weeks

Eligible Students: Crime laboratory trainees in forensic microscopy of hairs and fibers.

Pre-requisites: None.

Description: The course is designed to provide a basic framework for future study in these disciplines. This course provides an introduction to methods of collecting, handling, preparing, identifying, and comparing hairs, textile fibers, and other types of fibrous materials that may be encountered as physical evidence in a forensic laboratory. The identification and comparison of animal and human hairs using the comparison microscope will be provided. A Hands-on experience will be provided for textile fiber identification using the polarized light microscope. An overview of the important optical and instrumental methods currently used for the identification of fibers in forensic laboratories is presented. Information concerning the examination of fabric, cordage, tape and other fiber-related materials is also presented.

Home | Student Instructions | Training Application | Virtual Academy | Course Descriptions | FY09 Course Schedule