CHAPTER 7

PARAFFIN TEST
AND
GUN POWDER RESIDUE
 LEARNING OBJECTIVE

At the end of this chapter, the student will be able to:

• Define what a paraffin test is;
• Identify the types of gunpowder;
• Describe the process of testing for gunpowder
nitrates;
• Describe the guidelines for estimating target
distances; and
• Define "gunshot residue".
 PARAFFIN TEST
- A paraffin test is a method used for detecting gunshot residue. This test
determines conclusive evidence in a clinical trial. This test determines
whether or not a person has fired a gun and is an important means by
which to provide conclusive evidence in clinical trial.
Different names of this test:
1.Lunge's test
2.Diphenylamine test
3.Dermal nitrate test
4.Gonzales test
EXAMPLE OF PARAFFIN TEST
• Dr. Gonzalo Iturrios-first used paraffin for collecting gunpowder residues
from discharged firearm in Cuba where the Paraffin test originated.The basis
of this test is the presence of nitrates in the gunpowder residue.
• The test is done by applying warm melted paraffin wax on the hands of the
alleged shooter, which causes the pores of the skin to open and exude the
particles of gunpowder residue (If present). These particles are extracted by
the paraffin cast (made of paraffin wax and absorbent cotton) and would then
appear as blue specks, when diphenylamine (DPA) reagent is added on the
cast.
• The specks are generally located on the area of the thumb and forefingers.
• Time allotment for performing a paraffin cast:72 hours (3 days) from the time
of the alleged shooting incident. After the specific period, it will be impossible
to extract the gunpowder nitrates.
• Nitrates from pores cannot be removed by ordinary washing of the skin and
stay for 72 hours. That is why it is important to conduct the paraffin casting
within the specific period.
Other substances similar to nitrate-known as oxidizers will also
react with the reagent in the same way, thus giving a false
positive result. These substances include the following:
1. Cigarette
2. Fertilizer
3. Tobacco
4. Explosives
5. Certain cosmetics
6. Urine
7. Food samples
Gunpowder
Types of Gunpowder

1. Black powder - a mixture of carbon or charcoal

(15%), sulfur (10%), and potassium nitrate (75%)

2. Smokeless powder - is either single base (composed

of nitrocellulose) or double base (composed of
nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine and other stabilizers)
Tests for Gunpowder Nitrates

1. Gunshot Range (GSR) Test

-When a gun is discharged, gunpowder residue may
also be deposited on the clothing of the victim. The size
and density found on the clothing as well as pattern of
gunpowder will determine the appropriate distance of
the firer to the victim. As the distance to the victim
increases, the size of the pattern increases while density
decreases.
2. Neutron Activation Analysis
.-This refers to the use of access to the nuclear reactor
and facilitates to determine radiation.

3. Gunpowder Residue Test (GPR) Test

-Diphenylamine reagent is applied to cotton swabbing
of the barrel and chamber of the gun to determine if
firearms were fired. A deep blue color results from the
reaction of nitrates with the reagent indicating presence
of gunpowder residue.
4. Paraffin-Diphenylamine Test (Dermal nitrate test)

Taking a paraffin cast on the hands of the alleged gunman should be

taken within 72 hours from the alleged time of firing. Here, the
reagent used is Lunge's reagent, which is prepared by dissolving
0.5grams of diphenylamine in 100 cc of C.P. sulfuric acid, and adding
20 cc of water otherwise known as DPA reagent.
A positive result is indicated by the presence of blue specks when the
paraffin cast is treated with diphenylamine reagent. The blue specks
are caused by the nitrates present in gunpowder. However, a positive
finding is not conclusive evidence but only a corroborative one.
Factors that affect the result of a paraffin
examination:

• Length of the barrel

• Type of caliber of ammunition
• Wind velocity and direction
• Age of gun/efficiency of mechanism
• Humidity/percent moisture in air
• Use of gloves
• Direction of firing
Guidelines for Estimating Target Distances
1. When contact is less than 1 inch from the target:
• heavy concentration of smoke-like vaporous usually surrounds the entrance hole of the
bullet
• scorch marks in the loose fiber surrounding the bullet entry hole
• presence of stellate (star-shaped) tear pattern around the hole due to the blue back of
muzzle gases
2. When contact is 12 to 18 inches or less from the target, there is a hole of vaporous lead
(smoke) deposits around the bullet hole
3. When contact is 25 inches, there are scattered specks of unburned and partially powder
grains without any accompanying soot.
4. When contact is 36 inches, there are scattered gunpowder particles with ball powder
ammunition.
5. When contact is more than 3 feet from the target:
• typically no deposit of any powder residues unto the target
• a bullet wipe or a dark ring around the perimeter of the bullet hole; this is the only visual
indication to characterize the hole made by a bullet
In comparison, if the gun is discharged when held close to the body of the victim, it
produces two types of discoloration:
1. Tattooing
• occurs when the gun is held at about 36 inches away from the target
• presence of a black coarsely peppered pattern due to the partially burned and
unburned particles of the gunpowder
• the size of the powder tattooing depends on the powder charge, caliber, and the
distance of firing
2. Smudging
• occurs when the gun is held about 2 inches to a maximum of 8 inches away from
the target
• a dirty grimy appearance deposited around the entrance hole due to the soot from
the burned powder
• the size of smudge depends on the caliber of the gun, type of powder used, length
of the barrel of the gun, and the distance of the muzzle of the gun was held from
the body
Gunshot residue (GSR)

Gunshot residue is mainly composed of burned and unburned

particles from the propellant, the explosive primer, the
components from the bullet, as well as the cartridge case and
the firearm used. Some authors use other definitions, such as
firearm discharge residue (FDR) or cartridge discharge residue
(CDR). This process can be likened to a cork in a vigorously
shaken champagne bottle. When the bullet exits the muzzle,
pressure behind it blows the gunshot residues out of the
firearm's barrel under high velocity. The residues are expelled
from the barrel in a smoky cone shaped pattern
Streaks of burning
gunpowder, smoke, and
unburned particulate can be
seen exiting the barrel as
well.
Visible gunshot
residues around bullet
entrance hole
Contact gunshot
entrance hole
Gunpowder particulate
residue around bullet
entrance hole
CONCLUSION
The most common method used in testing for the presence of
gunpowder nitrates from the firer's hands is through paraffin test. A
paraffin test is not a conclusive test but rather a type of corroborative
evidence. Many paraffin examinations yielded negative result regardless
if it has already been established that the suspect fired a gun. This false
positive result can be due to several factors mentioned in this chapter.
The common reagent used in the analysis of GSR in the hands of the
gunman or clothing of the victim is the DPA reagent. Chemical tests
yield positive result if a blue-colored streak appears after depositing
DPA on the subject specimen. The size and shape of the bullet entrance
hole on the body of the victim could also help identify the most
probable distance of the firer from the victim.
RECOMMENDATIONS
-In any criminal case involving actual or suspected use of firearms, the
detection and identification of residues from the firearms’ discharge is of prime
importance as they provide valuable information in estimating the firing
distances, identifying bullet holes, and in determining whether or not the
suspected person was involved in the shooting.Gunshot residues can be
collected from a wide range of locations including skin/hair/bodyparts/clothing
of the suspect, vehicles, surroundings of the incident, and any surfaces in the
close vicinity of the firearm discharge. As such, different sample collection
techniques have been developed and are in use with a common objective of
maximizing collection efficiency of GSR and minimizing the matrix
interferences. Among the GSR sampling techniques, tape lift, vacuum lift,
swabbing, glue lift, and hair combing are most common. It is worthy to mention
that although the analytical techniques for the analysis of inorganic and organic
GSR are significantly different, their sampling methods are still the same.