Analysis of Gunshot Primer Residue Collection Swabs by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

The concentrations of antimony, barium, and lead in gunshot residue collection swab extract solutions were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Analytical advantages of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry are a lack of interferences by swab extract constituents, low detection limits, wide linear dynamic ranges, short analysis times, and good precision and accuracy. This procedure is applicable to both hand blank and shooter-associated levels of antimony, barium, and lead in gunshot residue swab extracts.