TITLE:
Touch DNA on Fabrics and Restraints
AUTHORS:
Elizabeth Gallardo, Heather Miller Coyle
KEYWORDS:
DiamondTM Nucleic Acid Dye, Touch DNA, Microscopy, Fabric, DNA Visualization, DNA Yield
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.16 No.9,
September
7,
2026
ABSTRACT: This study aims to discuss the effectiveness of DiamondTM Nucleic Acid Dye for visualization of DNA on surfaces. Touch DNA or touch deposits are important biological evidence for many types of crimes including criminal possession of weapons, robbery, and property crime as well as significant violent crimes against people. Although there is scientific research on touch DNA, there is still little literature regarding touch DNA deposition, adherence, and DNA recovery from fabrics and restraints. This article examines the visualization process of DNA deposits and the collection for downstream DNA processing by using a fluorescent dye called DiamondTM Nucleic Acid Dye that binds to the DNA and RNA molecules in the fingermark. DiamondTM Nucleic Acid Dye has an excitation maximum of 495 nm and a yellow-green emission maximum of 558 nm. DiamondTM Nucleic Acid Dye was successful to visualize DNA deposits on all types of restraints used in this study including nylon rope, cotton twine, polyester-cotton blend fabric, duct tape and plastic zip-ties. In addition, this study examines fabric composition and the ability to release DNA in a DNA quantitation experiment. Cotton and polyester fabric were found to yield more DNA than nylon fabric in an experiment using purified DNA showing that substrate composition can affect DNA recovery.