ABSTRACT: Hair comparison microscopy is now a new way of fighting crimes nowadays. It uses a comparison microscope where both the unsuspected and reference hairs are viewed simultaneously to deny or confirm their common origin.

There are many areas of research that underwent their own revolution to make way of new technologies and innovation. One of these fields is forensics. With crimes in alarming rate and with hundreds of cases to be solved, definitely there’s a need to identify suspects fast based on evidence gathered. Along with these innovation is the implementation of some forensic processes like hair comparison microscopy.

The Power of Hair

One of the most durable parts of the body is the hair. Unless it’s burnt, the hair can be used to identify bodies that are in their state of decomposition or to those hairs attached to a weapon used to commit long-ago crimes. Hair can grow up to 2.5mm per week; it stops growing, though, one a person dies. Because the hair is highly absorbent, it’s a very excellent “tool” to analyze arsenic poisoning. This is because the hair can absorb the toxin present in the bloodstream, and you can then work out the estimated frequency and strength of the dosage given.

Defining Hair Comparison Microscopy

As the name implies, it is a process by which human hairs are compared under a microscope in forensic laboratories. This analysis is a two-step procedure. First is the identification of questioned hairs. Second process involves comparing the questioned hair to commonly known hairs.

The ultimate reason for performing such examination is this: it is to determine if there’s only one person who had contact with a particular object or if there are more of them who did. This type of associative evidence is extremely helpful in solving cases that may range from sexual and aggravated assault, murder, homicide, rape, and other acts of violence. Armed robbery, theft, or burglary may include the recovery of clothing articles and debris that may possess some hairs that can lead the police to the suspect’s identity.

Process of Hair Examination

The first step in examining the hair is to determine if it comes from a human being or an animal. If it comes from the latter, it is still necessary to identify which kind. Hairs can be attributed to specific species; however, as to which specific breed, it’s hard to specify. This is especially the cause of dog hairs. You can know which dog breed but not what specific type of dog under that breed.

Worth of Hair Evidence

The worth of your hair evidence greatly depends on how unique the characteristics of the hair are to those of the population. Other factors that may determine its reliability include experience of the forensic hair specialist, the efficiency and power of the microscope used, as well as the suitability of the hair in question to the hair standards already set and known.
There’s no question that a hair evidence can be a very valuable component in solving crimes. However, sometimes its lack of quantitative analysis may pose itself as one major drawback, especially if you want to establish any statistical probably in relation for a specific association.

The Comparison Microscope

Sometimes called as stereomicroscope, a comparison microscope is used to compare specimens placed side by side. It is normally composed of two microscopes that are joined by an optical bridge, which provides you a split-view window. In forensics, the comparison microscope is used to analyze two microscopic structures and verify their common origin.
In hair comparison, the comparison microscope permits simultaneous viewing of both known and questioned hairs. Usually, a glass slide with a known or reference hair is mounted on one microscope while another glass slide with the questioned hair is staged on the other. This helps the examiner in comparing the characteristics of both hairs under one field in a microscope. Typical magnification power of a comparison microscope range from 40x to 400x.

Comparison Bridge

The detent of a comparison microscope helps you locate the position of the center split on the image to the right. The position of the center split of the left image can be adjusted by the user so you can vary the dividing line according to your preference. The optical system can give you color balance.
An efficient comparison bridge usually has intensity balance that makes it probable to utilize one light source as well as a calibrated and randomized fiber optic light so there will be consistent illumination for both the left and right images.
Accessories of a Comparison Microscope
To provide a simultaneous viewing of the evidence for the purpose of consultation and training, you can add a dual-viewing accessory. For a relaxed sitting position, you can also include the tilting observation tube.
The world may not be a safe place to live in anymore. But with hair comparison microscopy, at least, we’re one step ahead of fighting crimes.