Blood

&
Blood Stains
Dr. Kimberly Jeane Rosario-Lazaro
Human Blood
• the circulating tissue of the
body
• Highly complex mixture of cells,
enzymes, proteins and
inorganic substances
• It is the red fluid of the blood
vessels
• It is opaque
• Faintly alkaline
Serology
• Scientific study of blood serum
• Term used to describe a broad scope of laboratory
tests which use specific antigen and serum
antibody reaction
 Main
Components of
Blood
1) Plasma (55%)
2) Formed elements
(45%)
Composition of Blood
Formed elements or the solid materials (45%)
a) Red Blood Cells or Erythrocytes
• contains hemoglobin that carry oxygen to various cells in the body
• Circular, biconcave discs or rounded edges
b) White Blood Cells or Leukocytes
• masses of nucleated protoplasm
• Defends the body from invading microorganisms
• Help fight infection
c) Platelets or Thrombocytes
• Produced by the bone marrow
• Necessary for proper clotting of blood
Plasma (55%)
• Yellowish fluid
• Fluid portion of blood where the cells are
suspended
• Principally composed of water and solid
which is largely protein in nature and
consists of albumin, globulin and fibrinogen
Importance of the study of blood
1. As circumstancial evidence against or in favor of the perpetrator.
2. As evidence in case of disputed parentage.
3. As evidence in the determination of the cause of death and the
length of victim survived the attack.
4. As evidence in the determination of the origin of flow of blood.
5. As evidence in the determination of the direction of the case of
victim or the assailant.
6. As evidence in the determination of the approximate time the
crime was committed.
 Problems in the study of blood
1. Where blood has to be searched?
In the collection of bloodstains, usually attention is
directed to clothing and weapons. We should also look for
bloodstain under the fingernails, linings of the pockets,
seams and folds of the garments of the suspect, under the
edges of the table, etc.
 Problems in the study of blood
2. Collection, preservation, packing and transportation of specimen
suspected to contain blood.
Blood offers little resistance to decomposition. It undergoes rapid
change in its character with the passage of time as process of
clotting and drying commences almost immediately on exposure to
air.
Sodium flouride may be added to blood to preserve it for a week in
room temperature or infinitely in a refrigerator. Between 40-50 C is
the ideal preserving temperature for blood and other perishable
specimens. Mere washing of garments or clothing removes the
blood.
Problems in the study of blood
3. Does the stain contain blood or another substances?
The examination of the specimen should determine if the stain is blood,
if it is animal or human blood and what blood group is present.
 The Chronological Test for Blood
1. PRELIMINARY TEST –determine wether the stains contain
blood or another substance. It is used to demonstrate the
presence of blood. It determines wether visible stains or do
not contain blood.
2. CONFIRMATORY – tests that possibly identify blood.
3. PRECIPITIN TEST – determines wether the stain is of human
or animal in origin
4. BLOOD GROUPING TEST – determines the blood group if
human blood
 1. Preliminary tests
A. Benzidine test – most commonly used preliminary test for blood. An
extremely sensitive test that can be applied to minute stain.
B. Phenolphthalein test
C. Guaiacum test – may react to very old stain
D. Leucomalachite green test
E. Luminol test – reaction of luminal with blood results in the production of
light rather than color. By spraying luminal reagent onto suspected item,
large areas can be quickly screened for the presence of bloodstains. The
sprayed object must be located in a darkened area while being viewed for
the emission of light.
Preliminary test Reagents Positive result Limitations
Benzidine test Benzidine solution Blue color Positive results seen in
3% hydrogen peroxide sputum, pus, nasal
secretion, plant juices,
formalin, clay and gum
Phenolphthalene test or Phenolphthalene solution Rose color Positive test on copper salts,
Kastle-Meyer test 3% hydrogen peroxide Deep pink potatoes and horseradish
Permanganate color
Guaiacum test Guaiac resin Blue color immediately Positive test seen in saliva,
3% hydrogen peroxide pus, bile, milk, rust, iron,
salts, cheese, glutten,
potatoes and perspiration

Leucomalachite green test Leucomalachite solution Malachite green or bluish

3% hydrogen peroxide green
Luminol test Luminol Luminescence or emission Luminol destroys blood
of light factors that’s why it is only
used in the detection of
blood not visible to the
naked eye
Luminol test
2. Confirmatory tests
The actual proof that a stain is blood consist of establishing the presence
of the characteristic pigment hemoglobin or one of its derivatives.
A. Microscopic test
B. Microchemical or Microcrystalline test
C. Spectroscopic test
 2. Confirmatory tests
A. Microscopic test
üUseful in the demonstration and mensuration of blood corpuscles for
making the distinction between mammalian, avian, and reptilian blood
for the investigation.
üIt differentiates blood from human and non-human
Result:
o Mammalian: circular, biconcave discs with nucleus
oBirds, fish & reptile: larger, oval and nucleated
oAmphibian: larger than mammals, oval and nucleated
oEel: circular and nucleated
2. Confirmatory tests
B. Microchemical and microcrystalline test for blood
Test Reagents Result Limitation of procedure

q Teicmann test Sodium chloride Dark brown rhombic crystal If stain is old or washed,
Glacial acetic acid arranged singly or in clusters crystals may not be formed

q Acetone-haemin test Acetone, Small, dark, diachronic

Dilute acetic acid, or oxalic crystalsof acetone haemin
acid
q Haemochromogen crystal Takayama reagent q Large rhombic crystals of
test or Takayama test a salmon pink color
arranged in cluster,
sheaves and other forms
that appears within 1-6
minutes when viewed
under
2. Confirmatory tests
C. The Spectroscope test for blood
The most delicate and reliable test for the
determination of the presence of blood in both
old and recent stains. The test is done using
spectroscope, an optical instrument for forming
and examing spectra
Procedure: dissolved blood stains in water or
saline is placed in a chamber then rays of light will
pass directly through it then spectrum is visible
Positive result: upon absorbing some rays of light
from spectrum, it produced characteristic dark
colored bands which vary with the type of blood
pigment.
3. The Precipitin Test
It is the standard test used to determine whether
the stain/blood is of human or animal in origin.
Blood stains dried for as long as 10 to 15 years and
longer may still give a positive precipitin reaction.
Reagent: precipitin or antiserum
Procedure: centrifuged solution of saline and
stained blood or blood scrapings are layered with
precipitin reagents
Positive results: development of white cloudy line
at the contact point of the fluids that apperas
immediately or within one to two minutes
Blood stain patterns
• Bloodstain and patterns are useful for interpreting and reconstruction
of events that occurred during bleeding
Characteristic of blood patterns
1. The harder and less porous the surface, the less spatter occurs
2. The direction of travel of blood striking an object may be discerned by the
stain’s shape. Pointed end of a blood stain always faces its direction of
travel
3. Angle of impact can be determined by measuring the degree of circular
distortion of the stain
4. Origin of blood spatter in a two dimensional configuration can be
established by drawing straight lines through the long axis of several
individual stains. The intersection or point of convergence of the lines
represents the point from which the blood emanated.