Original Research Papers · Research Paper P1

Effect of Four Latent Blood Visualization Products on DNA

Céline Nicloux, Jessica Bressler

Forensic Science Seminar · 2014 · Volume 4 · Issue 1 · pp. 30-34

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Abstract

Bloodstain pattern analysts first document visible stains and patterns at a scene. Then, in order to obtain as much information as possible from the scene, they search for latent bloodstains and patterns. Latent bloodstains may be the result of old scenes, scenes altered by weather or fire or clean up attempts to destroy evidence. Due to the existence of false positives, analysts must determine if those latent patterns are blood, human blood and then have DNA analysis performed. Several chemical products are universally utilized to visualize latent bloodstains. Some have a direct and known negative effect on DNA such as o-tolidine, benzidine and TMB (tetramethylbenzidine) while some others can improve both visualization and DNA analysis after sampling. But how “DNA friendly” they are? In this article, four different products used to visualize latent bloodstains will be compared. The products tested all have luminol-based formulations that contain varying amounts of hydrogen peroxide. Two of the reagents contain fluorescein.

Keywords: Forensic science; Blood pattern analysis; Latent blood; Visualization; DNA

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