Forensic Science

Forensic Science

As a forensic scientist, your microscopes and imaging equipment must provide precision, quality, accuracy, and reproducibility of results to ensure success when examining evidence. Leica Microsystems supports your work to quantify, analyze and document findings with a wide range of forensic microscopy solutions from routine laboratory instruments to complete automated systems.

Forensic Microscopes and Imaging Equipment

As a forensic scientist, your microscopes and imaging equipment must provide precision, quality, accuracy, and reproducibility of results to ensure success when examining evidence. Leica Microsystems supports your work to quantify, analyze and document findings with a wide range of forensic microscopy solutions from routine laboratory instruments to complete automated systems.

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Please contact us if you would like to have personal expert advice on our microscopy solutions for forensic microscopy.

About Forensics

Every committed crime leaves clues – ones that are visible to the human eye, and others that are not. No matter if the forensic experts investigate ammunition, paint chips, documents, fingerprints, hair or fiber traces, stereomicroscopy and microscopy are indispensable. If the microscopic methods lead to final results, or have to be followed by further analysis techniques, depends on the kind of clue we are talking about. Very important is that the investigators work very thoroughly to make sure that not the tiniest clue is missed, because, in forensics, “maybe” doesn’t exist.

Which forensic microscope is suitable for your application?

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Trace Evidence

Reconstructing events through trace evidence requires precise microscopic analysis and proper care to minimize damage to the sample. Whether you are examining fibers, hair, paint, fingerprints, residue or other trace materials, Leica Microsystems offers powerful and customizable microscope solutions with a wide range of illumination and documentation options.

Firearms and Toolmarks

Examination of firearms and tool marks requires the right combination of superior microscope optics, precise illumination and smart software solutions to help you uncover unique surface characteristics. Find, identify, compare and document matches with Leica Microsystems' modular, compact and integrated microscopy solutions.

With the help of the split-image view forensic experts can compare the breech mark of two cartridges (one found at the crime scene and one test fired).

Forensic Medicine and DNA Extraction

Your specialty in forensic medicine can cover a wide range of applications including forensic biology, pathology, anthropology, toxicology, serology, DNA extraction and more. Regardless of your specific discipline, forensic laboratory analysis requires the right microscopes, cameras and software solutions that are tailored to your needs. From screening to separation, Leica provides a comprehensive range of forensic biological microscopes with a variety of optics, illumination and software options.

Questioned Documents and Handwriting

Questioned document examination calls for detailed microscopic analysis for revealing alterations, genuineness or sources of documents. Whether you are exposing forgery, counterfeiting, identity theft or fraud, Leica's range of microscopes, cameras and software solutions help you easily, accurately, and comfortably examine, compare and document your findings.

Which forensic microscope is suitable for your application?

The matrix will help you determine which of our instruments would be suitable for your work. If you have any questions, please contact your local Leica Microsystems representative.

Stereomicroscopes	Toolmarks & Ballistic	Shoe traces	D N A Biology	Documents	Hairs & Fibers	Ground traces	Paint	Toxicology	Physics / Cause of fire	Fingerprint identification	Entomology
A-Series: Simple systems for inspections with a tilted arm (magnifications up to 40x)	+	+	-	-	-	-	-	+	-	+	-
S-Series: Simple systems for inspections with a tilted arm (magnifications up to 55x). Flexible stand configurations	+	+	+	+	-	-	+	+	+	-	+
M-Series (M50/ 60/ 80): Modular, ergonomic, future oriented flexible systems (Magnifications 40x resp. 60x)	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+
M-Series (M125C/ 165C/ 205C): Modular, ergonomic, future oriented flexible systems (Magnifications up to 160x)	+	-	+	+	+	+	+	-	+	-	+

Light Microscopes	D N A Biology	Hairs & Fibers	Ground traces	Paint	Toxicology	Physics / Cause of fire
DM2000:Manual microscope for transmitted light (transparent samples)	+	+	+	-	+	+
DM2700 M: Manual microscope for reflected- and transmitted light	+	+	+	+	+	+
DM4 M: Semi motorized Instrument with direct calibration and high reproducibility	+	+	+	+	+	+
Polarization microscopes: Manual and semi-motorized	-	+	+	+	-	-

Digital Microscopes	Toolmarks & Ballistic	Shoe traces	Documents	Hairs & Fibers	Ground traces	Paint	Physics / Cause of fire	Fingerprint identification	Entomology
DMS1000: Small digital microscope for macroscopic Inspections	+	+	-	-	-	-	-	+	+
DVM6: Large digital microscope for microscopic- and macroscopic Inspections	+	-	+	+	+	+	+	+	+

Comparison Instruments	Toolmarks & Ballistic	Documents	Hairs & Fibers	Ground traces	Paint
FS C: Motorized Macroscopic (up to 80x)	+	+	-	-	-
FS M: Manual Macroscopic (up to 80x)	+	+	-	-	-
FS CB: Microscopic (up to 1000x)	-	-	+	+	+

Digital Cameras	Toolmarks & Ballistic	Shoe traces	D N A Biology	Documents	Hairs & Fibers	Ground traces	Paint	Toxicology	Physics / Cause of fire	Fingerprint identification	Entomology
Microscope cameras	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+

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