Fingerprint processing chamber with airborne contaminant containment and adsorption

A method for processing objects for fingerprints, comprising:

• placing an article to be tested for fingerprints into a chamber;
• thereafter sealing said chamber;
• after the sealing of said chamber, introducing a chemical fingerprint fixative agent into said chamber while maintaining said chamber in a sealed condition;
• after fixing of fingerprints on said article by said chemical fingerprint fixative agent, cleansing or filtering air in said chamber to remove particles of said chemical fingerprint fixative agent;
• preventing access to said chamber after the sealing of said chamber and prior to the removal of the particles of said chemical fingerprint fixative agent from said chamber;
• and
• enabling access to said chamber by an operator only after cleansing or filtering of air in said chamber to effectively remove particles of said chemical fingerprint fixative agent.

A fingerprint processing apparatus comprising:

• a casing defining a sealable chamber, said casing including a door for enabling access to said chamber;
• a first support in said chamber for holding a source of a chemical fingerprint fixative agent;
• a second support in said chamber for holding an article to be tested for fingerprints;
• a filtration system connected to said chamber for removing contaminants from air in said chamber;
• an air circulation assembly operatively connected to said casing for circulating air from said chamber and through said filtration system;
• a contaminant sensor in operative communication with said chamber for monitoring quality of air in said chamber;
• and
• a lock mounted at least indirectly to said casing for locking said door, said lock being operatively connected to said contaminant sensor for enabling opening of said door only when said chamber is effectively void of contaminant particles.