EXPERIMENT 3

GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN THE COLLECTION, PACKING

PRESERVATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BLOOD AND BLOODSTAINED EVIDENCES

OBJECTIVE: To learn the correct techniques and procedures in collecting, packing, preserving,
and identifying blood and blood stained evidences.

MATERIALS:
liquid blood blood stains on smooth surfaces
Blood stains on large surfaces knife or razor
Blood stains on clothing paper bags
Scotch tape white mailing envelope
Marker test tube
Tying material sodium fluoride solution

DISCUSSION:
Blood and blood stains is a type of physical evidence that is so fragile in nature that a
slight act of carelessness in handling can destroy their value as clues and removes the possibility
of obtaining from them any information which would help in the investigation. It is necessary
that the evidence presented in court be in a good condition similar to that when it was left at
the time of the offense. In order for these physical objects to be admitted as evidence, it is
necessary to preserve them in practically the same condition without substantial changes.
Hence, evidence should be protected from accidental or intentional change during the period
extending from its first discovery after the commission of the offense, to its ultimate disposition
at the conclusion of the investigation.
A few simple rules can guide the investigator in the protection of evidence from its
initial discovery at the scene of the crime, until its final appearance in the court. A violation of
these rules may lead to the partial loss of the value of the evidence and, in some instances, to
the acquittal of the accused. It is therefore very important that the investigator be able to
recognize and gather valuable physical evidence supplemented by knowledge of the correct
procedure/technique in caring for evidence.

Experiment 3

B. BLOOD STAIN ON CLOTHINGS AND FABRICS

1. Encircle with chalk or any marking material the stained areas found on the clothing. If
clothing is still wet, let it dry completely at room temperature in a secure well ventilated
room. Do not place in area where there is direct sunlight or heat.
2. Place identifying marks directly on the cloth, as far away from the stained areas as possible.

3. If buttons are present, attach a string tag bearing the information regarding the case

4. Wrap and pack the clothing separately in a closed paper container such as paper bag.

5. Place the bag containing the items in a coldest and driest facility possible ever until it is sent
to the laboratory.

OBSERVATIONS:

1. Why are blood stained clothing allowed to dry completely before packing?

- Two reasons, first, so the blood will dry in the state it was found in, with nothing
added (heat, etc) or subtracted (various substances may be lost if heat is applied)
and two, so that the bloodstained evidence is usable later. If packaged wet, the
blood may rot and DNA could be damaged so badly as to not be able to be properly
sequenced. Also, if it can be proven that something was inadvertently added to or
removed from the evidence,it can and likely will skew the entire prosecution. Lastly,
blood that has been air dried can be reconstituted with pure H2O or another liquid
of exacting and known chemical constitution later, without ruining the scientific
analysis.

2. Why is paper bag and not plastic bag preferred as container for blood stained clothing?

- So that the blood on the air-dried clothes won't get wet. And if the proof is placed in
the wet plastic bag, the blood will rot and damage the DNA so badly that it can not
be properly sequenced.

C. BLOOD STAINS ON WALLS AND FLOORS(LARGE SOLID SURFACES)

1. Place a clean sheet of paper below the surface where the stain is found.

2. With the use of a razor blade or clean knife, loosen and scrape the dried material onto the
paper.

3. Shake the powdered stain to the center of the paper and fold. Scrapings removed from the
different areas of the walls and floors are separately placed on a paper and labeled to
indicate the location where they were found.

4. Seal the folded paper thoroughly with a cellophane tape and individually place them inside a
white mailing envelope; seal them with masking tape and affix the initials of the investigator,
date when it was collected and other information.
 Experiment 3

OBSERVATION
1. Why are blood stains found in different areas of the floors and walls packed individually?

- It is packaged separately so that we can determine who the suspect may have
assaulted the victim and when and where the exact location and sequence of the
crime scene is