BLOOD STAIN
INTRODUCTION
Blood stains are serological evidence associated
with various crimes against persons, including
homicide, assault, domestic violence, child
abuse, and sexual assault.
In addition, many property crimes, such as
burglaries, robberies, and arson, may be
associated with the presence of blood at the
scene, on weapons, or on tools.
DNA profiles can be generated from such small
samples of blood as well as from trace amounts
of semen, other body fluids, tissues, and skin
cells, it is more important than ever to identify
positively the source and nature of the
biological material.
Bloodshed Events
A crime scene where bodily injury has occurred is likely to have some amount
of bloodstain evidence present; however, the amount will vary depending on
the circumstances of the crime.
The type of injury inflicted and the amount of force used will determine the
volume and pattern of bloodstains:
•Sharp force injuries (stabbing) - these injuries are caused by an object with
a relatively small surface area, such as an ice pick or a knife. Less blood is
deposited on the instrument, resulting in a smaller, more linear pattern of
stains.
•Blunt force injuries (hitting or beating) - objects inflicting this type of
injury are usually larger, such as a bat or hammer. If the object impacts liquid
blood, the larger surface area will collect more blood, producing drops of
varying sizes.
Types of Stains
Bloodstains are classified into three basic types:
passive stains, transfer stains and projected or impact stains.
Passive stains include drops, flows and pools, and typically result from gravity acting on
an injured body.
Transfer stains result from objects coming into contact with existing bloodstains and
leaving wipes, swipes or pattern transfers behind such as a bloody shoe print or a smear
from a body being dragged.
Impact stains result from blood projecting through the air and are usually seen as
spatter, but may also include gushes, splashes and arterial spurts.
Transfer stains Impact stains
Passive stains
The characteristics of blood spatter depend on the speed at which the blood leaves
the body and the type of force applied to the blood source.
Gunshot spatter - includes both forward spatter from the exit wound and back spatter from
the entrance wound. Typically, forward spatter is a fine mist and back spatter is larger and fewer
drops.
Interpreting the Patterns
When blood is impacted, droplets are dispersed through the air.
When these droplets strike a surface, the shape of the stain changes
depending on the angle of impact, velocity, distance travelled and type of
surface impacted.
Generally, the stain shape will vary from circular to elliptical, with tails or
spines extending in the direction of travel.
Smaller satellite stains may also break away from the initial drop.
By measuring the width and length of the stain, the angle of impact can
be calculated, helping investigators determine the actions that may have
taken place at the scene.
Examination of Blood Stains:
The bloodstains are subjected to examination to answer one or more
drops of the following questions:
(1) Whether the stain is blood or any other substance?
(2) If it is blood, is it animal or human origin?
(3) If it is animal, what species of animal?
(4) If human, whether male or female?
(5) From which part of the body has the blood originated?
(6) What is the blood group?
(7) Can paternity be established by blood tests?
Preliminary Test
Benzidine Test
The test, however, is not specific for blood, and a positive reaction
indicates that the stain may be blood.
The test is based on the presence of Hemoglobin in blood.
Peroxidase enzyme in blood speeds up oxidation of benzidine with
the formation of blue colour.
A small fibre or scraping is taken on a filter paper and a drop
or two of benzidine stain extract solution (10 per cent benzidine
in glacial acetic acid) is added to it, followed by hydrogen
peroxide.
An intense blue colour will develop if blood is present.
The test is not a specific test for blood, as vegetable peroxidase,
chemical oxidants or contamination may give similar reaction.
Luminol test
These again are not specific for blood.
The Luminol(chemiluminescent agent) test is the most sensitive test
for detecting blood.
The reagent(luminol and hydrogen peroxide ) is sprayed on a suspect
stain and then examined for luminescence in a dark area.
If blue glow is detected and can be
photographed, revealing the location of the
bloodstain.
Confirmatory test:
Haemin crystal test/ teichman test:
A small crystal of sodium chloride and 2-3
drops of GAA are placed on minute fragment
of stain on a glass slide.
A cover slip is then placed on it and the acid
evaporated by heating it gently over a flame.
Dark brown rhombic crystals of haemin
chloride will be seen under the microscope if
the stain is blood.
Haemocromagen crystals
ANALYSIS OF SEROLOGICAL
ANALYSIS
Analysis of the proteins, enzymes, and antigens present in the
blood.
1. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) DNA analysis
Direct analysis of certain DNA sequences present in the white blood cells.
DNA is much less susceptible to degradation than proteins, enzymes, and antigens.
RFLP DNA testing is commonly statistically individualizing (one out of several million or
several billion) .
This method also usually requires a "large" sample size to obtain significant results.
2. Precipitin method: This test is used to determine whether blood is of human origin.
3. Spectroscopic examination - The spectroscopic examination is the most delicate, quick and reliable method of
detecting Haemoglobin.
