BLOOD and
BLOODSTAINS
What is the purpose of adding
NaF to liquid blood sample?
• To prevent glycolysis to take place in
the blood sample
• Glycolysis is the breaking down of
glucose in the blood to produce ATP
(Adenosine Triphosphate), which is the
energy source of cells.
• If the liquid blood sample have
undergone glycolysis, it will eventually
die.
• This preservation will only last for 4
hours.
• Preservation is important
because information such as
the following will be
determined:
• Is it human or animal blood?
What is the blood type?
Whose blood, is it? (DNA
analysis can be done)
• What are the diseases of this
person?
2. What is the purpose of packing
bloodstained articles found in
different locations separately?
• For a better understanding of
what truly happened? (Crime
Scene Reconstruction)
• To avoid cross contamination
• To properly determine who
were the people involved in
the criminal act.
• The most powerful application of blood evidence is the
ability to absolutely eliminate a person as a potential
suspect in a crime.
• Presently, the courts do not recognize blood evidence as
evidence that can be absolutely linked to an individual,
such as fingerprints, bitemarks, broken fingernails and
handwriting.
• If DNA analysis is utilized, then blood evidence can be
linked to an individual with a high degree of probability.
• This is because of incidental contamination giving false
results in DNA analysis. The only way that false results
were induced was by direct cross contamination of wet
3. Why should direct
heat not be applied
to blood evidence
during the drying
process?
• Heat destroys the
blood sample and it
will not be suitable
anymore for blood
analysis.
What is the purpose of
completely drying bloodstained
clothing before packing?
• To prevent the blood
from absorbing
moisture and
eventually growing of
molds and other
microorganisms.
5. Why is a Kraft envelope used for
packing bloodstained clothing or
fabric instead of plastic bags?
• Because plastic bags do not
absorb moisture which causes
the bloodstained clothing to
produce molds and destroy the
blood sample
• Kraft envelope is properly sealed
with a string that protects the
clothing from contamination.
•If blood is properly documented,
collected, packed, sealed and preserved,
it can be presented to the court even
after a year from the time it was
collected and it can hold value as an
evidence because it can establish a
strong link between an individual and a
criminal act.
The Most Common applications of
blood evidence are:
• Finding blood with the victim's genetic
markers (ABO blood type, DNA profile,
etc.) on the suspect, on something in
the suspect's possession, or something
associated with the suspect (such as
the suspect's fingerprints).
2. Finding blood with the suspect's
genetic markers on the victim, on
something in the victim s
possession, or something
associated with the victim.
3. Investigative information
determined from blood spatter
and/or blood location.
Reference:
• George Schiro, Forensic Scientist, Louisiana State Police Crime
Laboratory, USA “Collection and Preservation of Blood Evidence from
Crime Scenes
• https://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/blood.html
• https://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/blood.html
