Name:_________________________________ Date Performed:________

Year and Section:________________________ Date Submitted:________

Experiment No.4
MICROCHEMICAL TESTS FOR BLOOD

Objectives: 1. To perform the microchemical tests for blood on a suspected

bloodstain.
2. To describe and compare the reaction of blood using different
types of microchemical tests.

Materials: Microscope, glass slide, cover slip, needle, sodium chloride, glacial
acetic acid, 10% sodium hydroxide solution, pyridine, glucose, acetone
and suspected bloodstain.

Discussion: The actual proof that a stain is blood consists in establishing the
presence of the characteristics blood pigment, hemoglobin, or one of
its derivatives like haemin or hematin. Along with the microscope and
spectroscopic examinations, the microchemical tests for blood are
done for the purpose of confirming the presence of blood.

Procedure: A. Teichmann or Haemin Crystal Test

1. Cut off a small piece of the stained fabric and place it on a glass
slide.
2. Put a small crystal of sodium chloride and 2 to 3 drops of glacial
acetic acid on the piece of the stained fabric.
3. Apply a cover slip on the stained fabric and gently heat the slide
to evaporate the acid.
4. Allow the slide to cool and examine under the high power
objective.
B. Takayama or Hemochromogen Crystal Test
1. Preparation of Takayama’s reagent
Mix together 3 mL of 10% sodium hydroxide, 3 mL of
pyridine, 3 ml of saturated glucose solution and 7 mL of water.
2. Cut off a small piece of the stained fabric and place it on a
glass slide.
3. Add 2 to 3 drops of Takayama’s reagent on the fabric and
cover it with a cover slip.
4. After 1 to 6 minutes, examine under the low power objective.
C. Wagenhaar or Acetone-haemin Test
1. Place a small piece of the stained fabric on a glass slide and
cover it with a cover slip with a needle interposed to prevent
direct contact between the slide and the cover slip.
 2. Run under the cover slip a drop of acetone so that the fabric is
surrounded and then add a drop of dilute acetic acid.
3. Examine the slide under the high power objective.
Observation:
1. Illustrate the shape and color of the crystals observed in the three different
microchemical tests as viewed under the microscope? Describe the
appearance of the crystals.

Teichmann Test Takayama’s Test Wagenhaar’s Test

(Drawing/illustration) (Drawing/illustration) (Drawing/illustration)

Description: Description: Description:

2. What component of blood was responsible for the positive results obtained in
the tests performed? (for each test)
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Conclusion:
1. Are the microchemical tests for blood confirmatory as to the presence of
blood? Why?
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2. Why are the tests performed in this experiment termed as “microchemical”?
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3. To what component of these body fluids can you attribute the positive results
of these fluids with these tests?
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