The Evaluation of Human Hand Odor Volatiles on Various Textiles: A Comparison Between Contact and Noncontact Sampling Methods*,†

Abstract

The focus of this study is to compare contact and noncontact human scent collection procedures across an array of textiles (cotton, rayon, polyester, and wool) to determine an optimized collection method for human scent evidence. Six subjects were sampled in triplicate for each textile and collection mode, and the samples were then analyzed through headspace solid-phase micro-extraction in combination with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS). Contact sampling with cotton material has been shown to be the collection method that yielded the greatest number of volatile compounds and the highest scent mass amounts. Through Spearman rank correlations, it was shown that an individual's scent profile is more reproducible within samples collected on the same textile type than between different materials. Furthermore, contact sampling with cotton fabric demonstrated the greatest reproducibility producing the lowest amount of type I and type II errors with 90.85% of the samples distinguished at the 0.9 match/no match threshold.

New methods for field collection of human skin volatiles and perspectives for their application in the chemical ecology of human/pathogen/vector interactions

“…Solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) is a simple, sensitive, solvent-free technique originally developed for the monitoring of air pollutants and later extended to the sampling of volatiles from living organisms (Musteata and Pawliszyn, 2007). SPME is now widely applied for the collection of human odours, but has so far most frequently been used following preliminary collection of skin volatiles on an intermediate medium (sorbent material such as gauze or cotton), leading to the potential isolation of many exogenous compounds (Prada et al, 2011;.…”

Resistance of human odours to extremely high temperature as revealed by trained dogs

“…Skin is supposed to be a significant source of scent traces (Prada et al 2011). Human scent is a complex combination of volatile organic compounds (VOC) such as acids, alcohols, aldehydes, hydrocarbons, esters, and ketones that secret fluids onto the human skin where they interact with skin bacteria (Labows et al 1982;Stoddart 1999;Syrotuck 2000;Curran et al 2005Curran et al , 2007Curran et al , 2010a.…”

Development of a Dynamic Headspace Concentration Technique for the Non-Contact Sampling of Human Odor Samples and the Creation of Canine Training Aids

“…19 Further studies should be done using delivery of static standard classes of compounds in a controlled setting.…”

“…The hood has been modified with a stainless steel plate to hold a 2'x2' piece of collection material. 19 When the STU-100 is swept over the subject or object of interest, air is drawn toward the device, concentrating any VOC's present onto the sorbent material at the face. The gauze pad is removed and may be presented to the canine in order to initiate a search or returned to a laboratory for analysis and/or storage.…”

“…It was determined that collection with the STU-100 yielded less total mass and variety of compounds compared to direct contact methods. 19 Hudson conducted controlled experiments using standard compound samples spiked onto stainless steel bars to simulate hand odor. The ability of the STU-100 to collect samples at different flow rates and with different collection materials were compared.…”