LAB REPORT

FRS 653
(FORENSIC BIOLOGY)
EXPERIMENT 3: BLOODSTAIN PATTERN
ANALYSIS
NAME

: MOHD SHAHIRUL BIN MD ISA

STUDENT ID

: 2014387603

GROUP PARTNERS

: Mohd Noorafiq Asbar Bin Mohd Noordin

Muhammad Ameer Arief Bin Mohd Mujab

CLASS

: AS253 5B1

LECTURES NAME

: Dr. Kavitha Rajagopal

DATE OF EXPERIMENT

: 13TH October 2016

DATE OF SUBMISSION

: 20TH October 2016

EXPERIMENT 3: BLOODSTAIN PATTERN ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION:
One technique used by crime scene investigators is the analysis of stains left by
bloodshed at a scene. Bloodstain pattern analysis is a powerful forensic tool
used in crime scene investigations. If the investigator understands the dynamics
of an altercation, how blood behaves when it exits the body, and how it reacts
when it contacts a surface, then an attempt can be made to understand what
happened and to determine if a crime occurred. Interpreting the bloodstain
patterns involves physical measurement of blood droplets, pattern recognition
using known photographs or experiments, the use of trigonometry, and
knowledge of the physics of motion.

(Courtesy of NFSTC)
Collecting and documenting the evidence correctly is another skill just as
important as interpreting evidence. Bloodstains cannot always be carried back
to the lab, so care in documenting the scene is of utmost importance.
Photographs and detailed sketches drawn to scale are invaluable tools that help
piece together the puzzle.
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OBJECTIVES:

Establish the relationship between dropping height and blood drop

diameter

Recognize patterns around the drop, such as satellite spatter or spines

Develop an understanding of the common types of bloodstain patterns

found at a crime scene

Create and examine vertical blood drop patterns on various textured

surfaces

Differentiate between high velocity and medium velocity impact spatter

PROCEDURES:

Part A: Vertical Drip Pattern Recognition

Materials Needed per Group:

Simulated Drip and Projected Blood
Meterstick
2 5 x 8 notecards
Metric Calipers or 15 cm ruler calibrated in mm.
10 mL graduated cylinder

Part 1: Single Blood Drop Patterns

1. The bottle of Simulated Drip and Projected Blood is held upside down
in a vertical position so that the dropper end is 30 cm from the target
surface (card).
2. The bottle is gently squeezed so that one drop is released from the
bottle at the 30 cm height and lands on the card.
3. The specimen is marked as vertical drop at 30 cm.
4. The blood bottle is repositioned so that the tip is 30 cm from the target
surface and next to the previous drop. Steps 2 and 3 are repeated,
labelled for the correct height. Get three drops across one card.
5. The remaining blood drops are generated at the vertical heights listed
in Data Table A1 using the same procedure.
6. The blood drops are allowed to dry.
7. When blood drops are dry, the diameter of the circular part of the drop
is measured in millimetres (Figure 1). If there are spines or protrusions
on the drop, disregard them as part of the measurement. Record your
measurements in Data Table A1.

8. A sketch of each drop is sketched in Data Table A1, making note of

any spines or protrusions in the drop.

Part 2: Multiple Blood Drips Pattern Recognition

1. The Simulated Drip and Projected blood bottle are used; a single drip
of blood is dropped onto a target surface from a height of 120cm. Do
not move your hand from the 120cm position. A second drop of blood
is dropped onto the first. Any change in the blood drop pattern is
noted after dropping the second drop into the first. The observations
are recorded in Data Table A2.
2. A 3rd blood drop is dropped from the 120 cm position so that the drop
lands on the stain from the first two drops. Observations are recorded.
3. The procedure is repeated until you have mixed a total of 4 blood
drops. Observations are recorded.
4. If possible, the target surface is saved and allowed it to dry overnight.
The surface multiple single is labelled vertical blood drops.
5. A clean target surface is obtained (multiple cards may be necessary).
Approximately 2-3 ml of Simulated Drip and Projected Blood is
placed into a 10 ml graduated cylinder. The cylinder is positioned 120
cm above the target surface, and the entire volume of blood is poured
all at once onto the target surface. The pattern is observed and
observations are recorded in Data Table A2. The stain pattern is saved
and allowed to dry overnight.

RESULTS:
Data Table A1: Single blood drop pattern from different height on porous and
non porous surface
Height of blood
drop

Porous Surface

Non Porous Surface

Diameter (cm)

1.8

1.5

Height of blood
drop

Porous Surface

Non Porous Surface

2.0

1.8

30 cm

60 cm

Diameter (cm)

Height of blood
drop

Porous Surface

Non Porous Surface

Diameter (cm)

2.3

2.3

Height of blood
drop

Porous Surface

Non Porous Surface

Diameter (cm)

2.7

2.4

Height of blood
drop

Porous Surface

Non Porous Surface

2.9

2.5

90 cm

120 cm

150 cm

Diameter (cm)

Data Table A2: Multiple Blood Drips Pattern Recognition

Blood Drips

One

Observations
Verbal and Pictorial
- Parent drop have circular shape.
- No satellite spatters are formed.
- Spines are present around parent
drop.
- Short length of spines.

Two

- Appears to be more flat than single

drop.
- Spines are present around parent
drop but very small in length.
- Satellite spatters are present but not
far from parent drop.

Three

- The parent drop is small and

elliptical.
- Has fewer spines than single and
two drops.
- More satellite spatters are present
than two drops and far from parent.

Four

- The parent drop is smaller and

more flat than three blood drops.
- Has fewer spines around parent.
- There is enormous satellite splatter
from parent drop and also small
looks like mist.

Large Volume

- The parent drop has large shape.

- Present of satellite splatters that
show random variation in
directional angles.
- Many satellite spatters also appears
further away from parent and has no
linear pattern.
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Part B: Vertical Drips on Various Surfaces: Pattern Recognition

Materials Needed per Group:

Simulated Drip and Projected Blood
Meterstick
5 x 8 notecard
Computer paper
Cardboard
Paper bag (such as a paper grocery bag)
Plastic bag (such as a plastic grocery bag)
A non-porous surface such as: painted wood or Plexiglas

1. A computer paper is used as the target surface, hold the Simulated

Drip and Projected Blood bottle upside down in a vertical position so
that the dropper end is 120 cm from the target surface (card).
2. The bottle is gently squeezed so that one drop is released from the
bottle at the 120 cm height and lands on the target surface.
3. The pattern is observed and recorded in Data Table B.
4. Steps 1-3 are repeated using the other materials listed in the table as
target surfaces.

RESULTS:
Data Table B: Vertical Drips of blood on Various Surfaces

Target Surface
Material

Description and Sketch

The shape of blood is circular. Blood is
absorbed by the surface because the
paper have porous surface. Spines are
distributed equally around parent drop.
There is a present of small but vaguely
seen satellite.

Computer Paper

The blood is partially absorbed by the

surface. The shape is not circular due to
the absorbance of the surface. Spines are
present around parent drop but they are
relatively small. No satellite spatters are
present.

Cardboard

The shape of blood is circular. Blood is

absorbed by the surface because the
paper have porous surface. Spines are
distributed equally around parent drop.
But the length of spines is longer than
on computer paper. No satellite spatters
are present.

Paper Bag

Blood drop is not absorbed by the

surface because plastic have non porous
surface. The blood spatter is in irregular
round shape. Spines are present but not
as many as other surfaces. There is small
satellite spatters appear.

Plastic Bag

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Blood drop is not absorbed by the

surface. The blood drop has circular
shape. There is present of small spine
but it is vaguely seen. The shape of
blood is small because it is not absorbed
by the surface.

Non-porous
Surface

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DISCUSSION:

1. How are the blood drops at different heights alike?

The diameter of blood drops increases as the height increases.

2. How do they differ?

They differ from the diameter of the blood drop and number of spines
around the blood

3. How do the large volume and dripped volume blood patterns compare?
Large volume blood pattern produce the satellite spatters that will show
random variation in its directional angles and shapes. On the other hand, the
satellite spatters for dripped volume blood patterns are more regular in
shape and more directional.

4. Observe the following blood droplets and blood patterns. What type of event
could have occurred to produce these patterns?

Blood droplet A is dropped from higher height compared to blood

droplet B. It can be distinguished by observing the diameter of both
droplets. The diameter of blood droplet A is bigger than B, thus it is
surely have dropped from higher height.

Furthermore, for blood pattern, these patterns can be categorized as

linear pattern due to its individual position which is next to each
other.

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5. Using a following grid line, create a graph that illustrates the Drop Height vs.
Diameter for the blood drops in Part A. What kind of curve is produced?
Illustrate your graph below.

6. Given the following diameters of blood drops, from what height

(approximately) did they fall?

a. 20mm

b. 25mm

c. 30mm
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7. Why is it important to know how blood patterns differ on different surfaces?

It is important to know how blood patterns differ on surfaces to provide an
interpretation of the physical events which made them.
Besides, some mediums absorb blood while others do not, so blood will
spatter different ways depending on the absorption of the medium.

8. What differences did you see in the blood that was dropped onto smooth and
rough surfaces?
Blood drops on a smooth surface will make a more uniform
or regular circular shape. Blood drops on a rough surface will make an
irregular shaped stain with rough or jagged edges.

CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, at crime scene we can analyze bloodstain patterns
according to its diameter, shape of parent drop, satellite spatters and spines.
From the patterns, it provides information about velocity of weapon, the height
of blood dropped, position and movements of the victim and also type of
injuries.

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