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Evaluation of a Visualization Assay for Blood on Forensic Evidence
Author(s) -
Vandewoestyne Mado,
Lepez Trees,
Van Hoofstat David,
Deforce Dieter
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12720
Subject(s) - visualization , blood stains , filter paper , crime scene , filter (signal processing) , dried blood , computer science , materials science , computer graphics (images) , chromatography , biomedical engineering , artificial intelligence , chemistry , computer vision , engineering , psychology , criminology
In forensics, bloodstains on dark fabrics might be invisible for the naked eye. Although several visualization, presumptive, and confirmatory blood tests have been developed, all have one or more disadvantages, especially on DNA analysis. We report here the use of a visualization assay that can visually detect blood drops up to 1/20 dilution. In this assay, the fabric is placed between two wet filter papers and covered by glass surfaces on both sides. Pressure is applied on the glass surfaces in which bloodstains transfer onto the filter papers through capillary forces. Detected stains can be tested with other more sensitive presumptive blood tests performed on the filter paper. Even more, DNA analysis can be performed on the transferred bloodstains. The presented visualization assay is easy to perform, extremely cheap, requires little hands on time, and does not affect bloodstain pattern analysis.