An ultra-sensitive method for visualizing latent fingerprints using a chemical multiplier to amplify even very faint prints on rough or otherwise difficult surfaces, involving a chemical free radical reaction which produces millions of identifiable molecules from each adsorbed initiator molecule and thereby greatly increases the detection sensitivity. A corresponding fingerprint detection kit may be utilized to carry out such method, in which the kit includes a free radical chain reaction initiator, and a reagent that can react via the free radical chain reaction in the presence of the initiator and form colored, fluorescent, polymeric, IR- or UV-absorbing molecules that are effective for visualization of the fingerprint.