BLOOD

Griffin

BLOOD AT THE CRIME

SCENE
Blood is most commonly found at

the scene of violent crimes.

Investigators use location,

distribution, and pattern of

blood and bloodstains to
reconstruct the crime.
Blood at the crime scene will be

classified as class evidence

until it is individualized by DNA.

IS IT BLOOD, OR NAH?
Forensic investigators will

perform a number of
presumptive and
confirmatory chemical color
tests thats can be used to
detect the presence of blood.
Hematest/Hemastix
Kastle-Meyer Test/Hydrogen

Peroxide Test
Luminol Test

LUMINOL TEST
Luminol is a chemical

compound that is sprayed on

suspected blood.

A positive test gives a strong

blue fluorescence when

viewed with a UV light.

Luminol reacts with hematin,

which is formed as bloodstains

age.

False positives have been

observed with the presence of

bronze and brass.

Regular Light

UV Light

HEMATEST/HEMASTIX
HemaTrace test strips

interact with human

hemoglobin.

The strips contain an

antihuman hemoglobin
antibody

Green color indicates a

positive reaction.

KASTLE MEYER TEST

This presumptive test is also

known as the phenolphthalein

test.

The presence of blood is shown

based on a peroxidase reaction

of hemoglobin. (Using
Hydrogen peroxide)

2 H2O2 2 H20 + 02

(BUBBLES!)

Positive = pink
Can produce false positives

from other substances, such as

saliva and pus.

ANIMAL VS. HUMAN?

PRECIPITIN
TEST
Used to determine if

blood is of human or
animal origin.

Uses antiserums of

known origins to react

with unknown blood
samples.

If the antibodies and

antigens match, a
precipitate, or
precipitin band is
formed.

Can be used on

bloodstains 10 to 15
years old and older.

1.

ANSWER QUESTIONS IN
NOTEBOOK

What three questions should the investigator answer when examining an apparent
dried bloodstain?

2.

Define presumptive test.

3.

What property of blood is used in most presumptive tests?

4.

A forensic veterinarian may be asked to identify a specific animals blood. How would
this be done?

5.

How much blood is there in the average adult human?

6.

What are the four major blood types found in humans?

7.

What happens if a person with type AB- blood is given a transfusion of type A+ blood?

DUE TODAY! BRING IT TO ME TO CHECK!