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Reason #45 to wash your hands

Jessie LaPlante, a WSU College of Nursing student nurse, shows St. Charles third-grader Cecilia Schuh, 8, the proper way to wash her hands to prevent the spread of germs. (The Spokesman-Review)
By D.F. Oliveria daveo@spokesman.com(509) 319-0354
Jessie LaPlante, a WSU College of Nursing student nurse, shows St. Charles third-grader Cecilia Schuh, 8, the proper way to wash her hands to prevent the spread of germs. (The Spokesman-Review)
Jessie LaPlante, a WSU College of Nursing student nurse, shows St. Charles third-grader Cecilia Schuh, 8, the proper way to wash her hands to prevent the spread of germs. (The Spokesman-Review)

LOS ANGELES – Forget fingerprint dusting. Crime-scene drama fans might soon see a new forensic technique debut on their favorite TV series: hand-germ testing.

According to a study published online Monday, bacteria that live on a person’s hands could one day accurately identify that individual. This could come in handy to track down a criminal who has worn gloves, removed prints and other personal physical evidence, or touched surfaces such as fabric where a fingerprint wouldn’t show up, the researchers said.

How many times a day do you wash your hands?

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Huckleberries Online." Read all stories from this blog