Age Determination of Ink:

• effective and reliable methods to chemically date ink entries
• other ink entries are not necessary for comparison
• age is determined by analyzing volatile components, not dye components
• method developed by Valery Aginsky, Ph.D.
• This method was also subjected to stringent testing (using "blind" samples) by the Government of Israel and found 100% accurate.
• The method was successfully subjected to testing by this firm on two occasions in 2001.
• The Canadian Customs & Revenue Laboratory has conducted validation studies of the Aginsky Method (which are ongoing) and has used a modification of the method in over 100 cases
• November 21, 2002, Hong Kong Ruling on Ink Dating (enable bookmarks to peruse areas)

Mr. Gerry M. LaPorte has extensive experience as a forensic chemist with both current and past ink dating methodology. Mr. LaPorte has conducted extensive research in this area, as well as being trained by Dr. Valery Aginsky in his specific ink dating methodologies.

You may obtain copies of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) published guidelines regarding forensic ink chemistry at the ASTM website - Standard Guide for Writing Ink Identification (ASTM Standard E1789) and Standard Guide for Test Methods for Forensic Writing Ink Comparison (ASTM Standard E1422).