NINcha

NINcha – Ninhydrin, DFO and Indandion Development Chambers for Latent Fingerprints on porous surfaces

NINcha is a climate chamber designed to develop fingerprints and similar marks on porous surfaces. There are three sizes of the chamber in this series: the benchtop model, NINcha S31; the mid-size standing model, NINcha M31; and the larger standing model, NINcha L31.
Evidence with fingerprints is treated in the usual way by dipping or spraying with developers like Ninhydrin, DFO or Indandione, and after an evaporation step, is developed in a climate chamber. This allows the evidence to be developed under the ideal temperature and humidity conditions for the best results.
Many laboratories attempt to do the development step in a cabinet or chamber designed for other uses. These, unfortunately, are not ideal for evidence development. Not only can they produce inferior results, but less standardized methods also threaten laboratory credibility, and the use of improper equipment can contaminate evidence and even cause it to develop mould.
NINcha was specially developed for forensic laboratory use, using the feedback of professionals working in the field. With over 500 systems installed worldwide, NINcha is a hallmark of modern-day forensic equipment standards for fingerprint development on porous surfaces.
All NINcha series models are constructed with the same innovative details in mind, using future-proofed state-of-the-art production techniques.

Interior Concept and Ventilation

The inner climate chamber of every NINcha is made from high-quality, smooth stainless steel, making it easy to clean and resistant to corrosive material. This makes removing any DNA contamination simple and allows peroxide-based cleaners to be used, as these cleaners would damage and be less effective on surfaces on painted and plastic surfaces. All evidence shelving, rods, and hooks are also made from stainless steel, making them rust-resistant. Their size also makes them easy to clean in a laboratory dishwasher.
NINcha does not have any hidden air channels to help circulate air in the chamber. This reduces contamination buildup and makes it easier to clean the chamber. All interior chamber accessories can be removed without tools for even easier access, making cleaning simpler and safer.

NINcha can be set up as an independent system without the need for any additional external ventilation system; however, if external hookups are desired, every NINcha has an optional hookup for an external chemical ventilation system. This feature can be advantageous for laboratories that need to reduce the ambient heat in the lab or simply want to be able to shut off the chamber circulation and humidification systems completely after cycles without the risk of trace evidence of contamination.

Innovative Operation

Users can control NINcha via a simple, user-friendly touch-panel display. The highly customisable system allows users to control and monitor all their development parameters. Not only does the system have pre-programmed cycles for easy one-button development using common developers on the market (such as DFO), but users can adjust these pre-programmed cycles or even create their own custom cycles for completely new developers that enter the market in the future.

NINcha displays all the relevant chamber parameters during a development cycle for easy monitoring. These cycles can be set to run automatically, or users can control the system manually.

USB Process Datalogger

Reliable and reproducible results are essential in forensics, especially for ISO 17025-accredited laboratories. Whether the pre-programmed or the custom manual development settings are used, all process data is stored by the system datalogger and can be easily downloaded with a USB. Parameter data for the entire process can be viewed and saved for documentation and quality assurance.

Our datalogger program also lets users generate custom reports with their personal department logo and information and save them as images or text documents for later use.

Integrated Air Circulation System

Dust can often be generated when developing porous evidence like paper or cardboard. This dust can contain material like DNA that may contaminate other evidence if left in the chamber. Some other development chambers have air circulation that depends on moving air through channels that are difficult to clean and access.

Dust and other contaminants can build up in these channels and later be expelled back into the chamber, where they may damage or contaminate other evidence. Our open chamber circulation and filter system remove dust from the chamber airstream, reducing this risk and making decontamination easier.

When developing with Ninhydrin, DFO and Indandione, it’s important that if a filter is being used in a system, it is only used with one type of developer, as using one filter for different developers can lead to poor development or damaged evidence. Our system makes this easy with our coded filters. Not only are our filters labelled, but the system also recognizes which filter is inserted and changes the program options to ensure that only the correct developer type for the inserted filter can be used, preventing cross-contamination.

NINcha P31 – the Portable Version

NINcha P31 is a practical solution for those who need to develop porous evidence outside a laboratory. This portable version has the same useful control features as the larger NINcha models and is controlled via a similar touch-panel display, but is built into a compact rolling case with an extendable handle. It can easily be transported to develop evidence right at a scene and still maintain the high standards of the laboratory.

This suitcase model can be used with all the same developers as the larger standing models. The interior chamber walls, as are the evidence racks, are easy-to-clean stainless steel. The removable chamber evidence racks can hold evidence as large as two sheets of size DIN-A4 paper.

The control system has all the features of the larger models, including the datalogger system, for documentation and quality control. The system also has the same custom and pre-programmed cycles, making evidence development quick and easy. The door of the chamber has a large glass panel, so evidence development can easily be monitored throughout the entire process. The door is automatically locked while cycles are running to prevent evidence from being disturbed by unauthorized individuals.

Useful Accessories – NINcha

Every NINcha is delivered as a fully functional evidence development system. Our standard order delivery includes:

• Stainless steel evidence racks for every shelf level
• 10 stainless steel hanging rods
• Filter for Ninhydrin development (LFN31)
• USB-Datalogger for quality control and documentation
• Optional hookup for external ventilation

We also offer additional accessories that can be ordered separately:

• Filter unit for DFO operation (LFD31)
• Filter unit for Indandione operation (LFI31)
• UV-C unit to assist in DNA decontamination
• Starter kit with stainless steel hooks and clips for hanging evidence
• Additional stainless steel shelves
• Additional stainless steel hanging rods
• The accessory storage box fits neatly on the racks under our floor-standing model NINcha M31.