GUN SHOT RESIDUE FIELD KIT

1 . A portable detection kit for identifying the presence of gunshot residue (GR) and explosive residue (ER), wherein the kit comprises:

a colorimetric reagent(s),

a solvent(s), and

a swab(s),

wherein the colorimetric reagent(s) and solvents(s) and a swab(s) are be provided in hermetically sealed light, air and moisture proof packaging.

2 . The portable detection kit as in claim 1 , wherein the GSR and ER comprise any discharge from weapons and explosives.

3 . The portable detection kit as in claim 2 , wherein the GSR or ER are present as liquids, gels or solid residues that are pure or admixed with clandestine cutting or diluting agents.

4 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the colorimetric reagent(s) in combination with the solvent(s) are configured to undergo physico-chemical interaction with GSR and ER, producing colored reaction product(s), resulting in a visible color change.

5 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the GSR or ER is Metal Particulate (MP) and the swab is a pre-wetted cotton swab for the collection of MP.

6 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the swab is pre-wetted with a solution comprising the solvent(s) and the colorimetric reagent(s).

7 . The portable detection kit of claim 6 , wherein the solution is a volume of 0.05 to 0.2 mL of a saturated sodium tetraborate/water solution and the pre-wetted swab is individually packaged into a hermetically sealed sachet.

8 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the colorimetric reagent(s) is selected from the group consisting of: Sodium Rhodizonate, rubeanic acid, dithizone, alizarin red s, salicylaldoxime, dithiooxamide, 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, zinc dibenzyldithiocarbamate (ZDBT). ZDBT, oxalydihydrazide-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl) dithiocarbamate, Neocuproine, Bathocuproine, nickel diethyldithio phosphate, Oxalyldihydrazide, Trimethyl arsonium iodide, 2-Carboxy-2′-hydroxy-5′-sulfoformazylbenzene and its salts, Chlorindazone DS.

9 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the colorimetric reagent(s) is selected from the group consisting of 2-Carboxy-2′-hydroxy-5′-sulfoformazylbenzene and its salts.

10 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , further comprising a bibulous carrier including a solution of the colorimetric reagent(s) and the solvent(s) absorbed therein.

11 . The portable detection kit of claim 10 , wherein the solution comprises 0.2 grams of 2-Carboxy-2′-hydroxy-5′-sulfoformazylbenzene or its salts in 70 mL of ethanol.

12 . The portable detection kit of claim 10 , wherein the bibulous carrier is chromatography filter paper.

13 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the GSR or ER is a nitroaromatic (NA) and the swab is pre-wetted for the collection of NA.

14 . The portable detection kit of claim 13 , wherein swab is pre-wetted with a solution comprising the solvent and the colorimetric reagent(s).

15 . The portable detection kit of claim 14 , wherein the solution is a volume a 75% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and 25% isopropyl alcohol solution and the pre-wetted swab is individually packaged into a hermetically sealed sachet.

16 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the colorimetric reagent(s) is selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate, sodium teraborate, hydroxide salts, N,N,dimethyl-1-naphthylamine, N-1-naphthyl-ethylene-diamine dihydrochloride, and sodium borohydride.

17 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , further comprising a solid support substrate including a solution of the colorimetric reagent(s) and the solvent(s) applied thereon.

18 . The portable detection kit of claim 17 , wherein the solution comprises 1 gram of sodium tetraborate in 100 mL sodium silicate.

19 . The portable detection kit of claim 17 , wherein the solid support substrate is 300 gsm card or synthetic paper.

20 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the GSR or ER is at least one of Nitrates, Nitrites, Nitroamines and Nitroesters (NNNN) and the swab is a pre-wetted cotton swab for the collection of NNNN.

21 . The portable detection kit of claim 20 , wherein the swab is pre-wetted with the solvent(s).

22 . The portable detection kit of claim 21 , wherein the solvent(s) is a volume of 75% DMSO and 25% isopropyl alcohol and the pre-wetted swab is individually packaged into a hermetically sealed sachet.

23 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the colorimetric reagent(s) is selected from the group consisting of: sulfanilamide, sulfanilic acid, 4-Nitroaniline, 3-Nitroaniline, 2-Nitroaniline, 2-Fluoro-5-nitroaniline, 3-Aminobenzenesulfonic acid, 2-Aminobenzenesulfonic acid, 2,4-Diaminobenzenesulfonic acid, 4-Aminobenzoic acid, 3-Aminobenzoic acid, 4-Aminophthalic acid, Methyl 4-aminobenzoate, 3-Fluoro-4-aminobenzoic acid, 2-Aminobenzoic acid, 2-Amino-3-fluorobenzoic acid, 2-Amino-4-fluorobenzoic acid, 2-Amino-5-fluorobenzoic acid, 2-Amino-6-fluorobenzoic acid, 2-Amino-4,5-difluorobenzoic acid, 2-Amino-3-methylbenzoic acid, 2-Amino-5-methylbenzoic acid, 2-Amino-6-methylbenzoic acid, naphthols, oxalic acid, sodium hydrogen sulfate, citric acid, toluene sulfonic acid, sulfamic acid, sulfanilic acid, 3-Aminobenzenesulfonic acid, 2-Aminobenzenesulfonic acid, 2,4-Diaminobenzenesulfonic acid, 4-Aminobenzoic acid, 3-Aminobenzoic acid, 4-Aminophthalic acid, 3-Fluoro-4-aminobenzoic acid, 2-Aminobenzoic acid, 2-Amino-3-fluorobenzoic acid, 2-Amino-4-fluorobenzoic acid, 2-Amino-5-fluorobenzoic acid, 2-Amino-6-fluorobenzoic acid, 2-Amino-4,5-difluorobenzoic acid, 2-Amino-3-methylbenzoic acid, 2-Amino-5-methylbenzoic acid, 2-Amino-6-methylbenzoic acid, benzoic acid, sodium tetra borate, cationic salts of bicarbonate, carbonate, sulphate and the like, N,N,dimethyl-1-naphthylamine, N-1-naphthyl-ethylene-diamine dihydrochloride, 8-amino-1-naphthol-5-sulphonic acid, and 1-dimethylamino naphthalene-5-sulphonic acid, zinc powder, iron powder, copper powder, and aluminum powder.

24 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the colorimetric reagent(s) is provided a solution with the solvent(s), wherein the solution comprises (i) 1 gram of sulfanilamide, (ii) 1 gram of sulfanilic acid, (iii) 1 gram of N-1-naphthyl-ethylene-diamine dihydrochloride, (iv) 50 grams of citric acid in 500 mL of aqueous alcohol solvent.

25 . The portable detection kit of claim 24 , wherein the aqueous alcoholic solvent comprises water and isopropyl alcohol in a predetermined ratio.

26 . The portable detection kit of claim 25 , further comprising a solid support substrate including the solution applied thereon.

27 . The portable detection kit of claim 26 , wherein the solid support substrate is 300 gsm card or synthetic paper and packaged into a hermetically sealed sachet.

28 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 wherein the GSR or ER is an oxidizer (OX) and the swab is a pre-wetted cotton swab for the collection of OX.

29 . The portable detection kit of claim 28 , wherein the swab is pre-wetted with a solution comprising the solvent(s) and the colorimetric reagent(s).

30 . The portable detection kit of claim 29 , wherein the solvent(s) is water.

31 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the colorimetric reagent(s) is selected from the group consisting of: methylene blue, potassium iodide starch, N,N′-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine sulfate, N,N,dimethyl-1-naphthylamine, N-1-naphthyl-ethylene-diamine dihydrochloride, alpha-naphthol, sulfanilic acid, copper sulphate, iron sulphate, and ferricyanide/cyanate salts.

32 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the colorimetric reagent(s) is methylene blue.

33 . The portable detection kit of claim 31 , further comprising a solid support substrate including a solution of the colorimetric reagent(s) and solvent(s) applied thereon.

34 . The portable detection kit of claim 33 , wherein the solution comprises 0.2 gram of methylene blue in 100 mL of ethanol solvent.

35 . The portable detection kit of claim 34 , wherein the solid support substrate is 300 gsm card or synthetic paper and the solid support substrate is packaged into a hermetically sealed sachet.

36 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the solvent(s) are configured to dissolve the colorimetric reagent(s), GSR, and ER.

37 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the solvent(s) comprise aqueous and non-aqueous solvents.

38 . The portable detection kit of claim 37 , wherein the solvent(s), comprises at least one of water, dimethyl sulfoxide, or alcohols.

39 . The portable detection kit of claim 38 , wherein the swab(s) is a cotton swab that is pre-wetted with the solvent(s), and individually packaged into a hermetically sealed sachet.

40 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the colorimetric reagent(s) comprises a mixture of at least two dry powder reagents.

41 . The portable detection kit of claim 40 , wherein the mixed dry powder reagents exhibit a homogenized micronized size within the range from about 0.1 micron to about 30 micron.

42 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , further comprising a sealed sachet containing about 0.1 grams to about 1 grams of the colorimetric reagent(s).

43 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , further comprising a solid support substrate including a solution of the colorimetric reagent(s) applied thereon.

44 . The portable detection kit of claim 1 , further comprising a sealed sachet containing the colorimetric reagent(s), the solvent(s), and the swab(s).

45 . The portable detection kit of claim 44 , wherein the sachet is formed from paper, PET12 um, AL7 um, or PE50.

46 . A method of detecting gunshot residue (GSR) or explosive residue (ER), comprising:

providing the portable detection kit of claim 1 , including hermetically sealed sachets containing the swab pre-wetted with a water solvent and dry powder of the colorimetric reagent(s);

locating a residue or surface suspected to include GSR and/or ER; and

opening both the sealed sachets containing the colorimetric reagent(s) and the pre-wetted swab.

47 . The method of claim 46 , further comprising:

removing the pre-wetted swab from its sachet,

applying a swab tip to the suspect residue and/or surface, and

rubbing the swab tip on the residue and/or surface to thereby dissolve and collect GSR and/or ER, yielding a sampled swab.

48 . The method of claim 47 , further comprising contacting the sampled swab with the colorimetric reagent(s) for a period of at least 10 seconds.

49 . The method claim 48 , further comprising monitoring both the swab tip and colorimetric reagent(s) for development of a presumptive colorimetric indication for the presence of GSR and/or ER.

50 . The method of claim 49 , wherein presumptive indications are: (metal negative—purple to white)(metals positive—purple to blue), (nitroaromatics (NA) negative—white to white)(NA positive—white to pink/red), (Nitrates, Nitrites, Nitroamines or Nitroesters (NNNN) negative—white to white)(NNNN positive—white to pink/red), (oxidizers (OX) negative—blue to blue or white)(OX positive—blue to pink/purple).

51 . A method of detecting gunshot residue (GSR) or explosive residue (ER), comprising providing the portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the swab(s) comprises a hollow shaft and a tip containing a fiber matrix and the colorimetric reagent(s) comprise dry powder reagent(s) embedded into the tip fiber matrix and wherein a water solvent is contained within the hollow shaft, and wherein the kit comprises the swab(s) and the colorimetric reagent(s) hermetically sealed within respective portions of a sachet.

52 . The method of claim 51 , further comprising:

locating a residue or surface suspected to include GSR and/or ER; and

opening the hermetically sealed sachet containing the swab(s).

53 . The method of claim 52 , further comprising:

removing the swab(s) from its sachet;

breaking the hollow shaft of the swab to releasing the water solvent into the tip of the swab;

applying the swab tip to the suspect residue and/or surface; and

rubbing the swab tip on the residue and/or surface to dissolve and collect GSR and/or ER, yielding a sampled swab.

54 . The method of claim 53 , further comprising monitoring both the swab tip and the rubbed surface to detect an indication comprising one of: (A) a purple-pink-red color formation representing positive presumptive colorimetric indication for the presence of GSR and/or ER or (B) a white swab tip/no color change representing a negative result.

55 . A method of detecting gunshot residue (GSR) or explosive residue (ER), comprising:

providing the portable detection kit of claim 1 , wherein the swab(s) comprises a swab that is pre-wetted with a water solvent and is sealed in a sachet, and wherein the colorimetric reagent(s) comprise one of dry powder reagents sealed in a sachet, a sheet sealed in a sachet, dry powder reagent(s) sealed in a breakable ampule or blister pack, a tablet or pellet sealed in a sachet;

locating a residue or surface suspected to include GSR and/or ER; and

opening the sachet containing the pre-wetted swab and the sachet, ampule, or blister pack containing the colorimetric reagent(s).

56 . The method of claim 55 , further comprising:

removing the pre-wetted water swab from its sachet;

applying a swab tip to the suspect residue and/or surface; and

rubbing the swab tip on the residue and/or surface to thereby dissolve and collect the GSR and/or ER, yielding a sampled swab.

57 . The method of claim 56 , further comprising:

inserting the sampled swab into the opened sachet, blister pack, or ampoule;

contacting the sampled swab with the powder, sheet, tablet or pellet containing the colorimetric reagent(s), for a period of at least 10 seconds; and

waiting for the development of a positive colorimetric reaction.

58 . The method of claim 57 , further comprising observation of both the swab tip and the colorimetric reagent(s) to detect an indication comprising one of: (A) a purple-pink-red color formation representing positive presumptive colorimetric indication for the presence of GSR and/or ER or (B) a white swab tip/no color change representing a negative result.