Micromanipulation of single cells and fingerprints for forensic identification

•Micromanipulation could prevent cells from being blended minimizing DNA mixtures.•Single cells were collected using Arabic gum spheres with a tungsten needle.•Fingerprints were swabbed using cotton spheres held with a Dumont tweezer.•“Sirchi” tape can be used to collect fingerprints.•The Axio Zoom.V16 was preferred for micromanipulations over the P.A.L.M.®.