Efficacy of USB microscopes for imaging forensic materials.

USB microscopy, a relatively new and developing technology, offers a highly portable and relatively inexpensive means for performing microscopy. However, it has not been established that USB microscopes are capable of imaging at a level deemed sufficient for forensic requirements. The purpose of this study was to determine the value, applicability, and limitations of current USB microscope technology by comparing USB microscopes with traditional microscopes by collecting images of common forensic trace materials.