SPR is a technique performed to detect latent fingerprints left on wet or moist surfaces based upon the reaction between the fatty-acid residuals present in the traces and hydrophobic
tails of the specific reagents. Those tails are linked to a hydrophilic head, which reacts with metal salt to give colored precipitate. In conventional small particle reagent, a suspension of
molybdenum disulfide in a surfactant solution is used as a base material. Zinc carbonate, titanium dioxide and ferric oxide are some other materials used in SPR. However, as the
base material is Grey in color, the fingerprints developed on dark colored surfaces are not sufficiently clear due to lack of contrast.29–31 Therefore, a formulation based on white
colored basic zinc carbonate, basic fuchsia and a commercial liquid detergent was prepared for developing latent fingerprints on crime scene evidence that were exposed to water for varied time periods. The present study is done to investigate if novel SPR formulation prepared can recover latent fingerprints on glass and metal surfaces submerged in stagnant water at various time intervals. The subsequent results were compared with already in use SPR formulation based on crystal violet dye to conclude its efficacy.28