Physical Security Professional Certification Practice Exam

How would a latent fingerprint best be described?

1. Invisible impressions caused by body perspiration or oils

2. Visible impressions caused by blood, paint, or grease

3. Loops characterized by ridge lines

4. Arches characterized by ridge lines

The correct answer is: Invisible impressions caused by body perspiration or oils

A latent fingerprint is best described as invisible impressions left behind on surfaces due to the transfer of skin oils and perspiration from the fingertips. This transfer occurs when a person touches or comes into contact with an object, leaving behind a pattern of ridges and furrows on that surface. Because these prints are not visible to the naked eye, they often require enhancement techniques, such as dusting with powder or using chemical methods, to make them visible for identification and analysis. Visible impressions, as mentioned in another choice, refer to prints that can be seen without any enhancement and are typically created by substances like blood, paint, or grease. While loops and arches describe specific patterns within fingerprints, they do not define the concept of latent fingerprints, as latent prints can exhibit any ridge pattern, including loops, arches, and whorls. Hence, the defining characteristic of latent fingerprints is their invisibility and the medium through which they are formed, which is primarily body perspiration and oils.