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Introduction to Hairs and Fibers

Course dates to be announced

The two-week course is designed to provide a basic framework for future study in the microscopic analysis and comparison of hairs and fibers. Applicants must be crime laboratory employees training in the microscopic analysis and comparison of hairs and fibers and should be familiar with use of light and polarized light microscope. This course provides an introduction to methods of collecting, handling, preparing, identifying, and comparing hairs and textile fibers that may be encountered as physical evidence in a forensic laboratory. The identification and comparison of animal and human hairs using the comparison microscope will be the focus of the first week. The identification and comparison of textile fibers using the comparison microscope and polarized light microscope will be the focus of week two. An overview of the important optical and instrumental methods currently used for the identification of fibers in forensic laboratories is presented. Information concerning the examination of fabric, cordage, tape, and other fiber-related materials is also presented. A large portion of this course focuses on the hands-on use of the microscope.

FBI Laboratory Training Application (pdf)
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