BLOOD DETECTION - BLUESTAR Forensic

1 The recovery and DETECTION of possibleblood stains at the crime scene can makeor break a case, especially with the adventof and perfection of DNA testing. When a crimescene is cleaned up, this technology becomes evenmore important. Over the past two years we haveconducted a study of Luminol and a new chemi-cal BLUESTAR Forensic this research delves into thespecifics of each chemical, its makeup, use and re-sults of the chemical testing on various BLOOD stainsof various dilutions to determine the sensiti-vity of each Luminol toBlueStar Forensic :a brief historyThe first experiments conducted with a view tousing Luminol as a tool in Forensic sciences wereconducted in 1937 by Specht, who tested it outon a variety of bases such as the lawn, bricks, orstone soaked in BLOOD . In 1939, Proesher &Moody tested Specht s composition on animaland human 1951,Grodskyproposed a blend of powdersmade up of Luminol, Sodium Carbonate, andSodium Perborate mixed with distilled became the formula that is mostcommonly used by today s investigators to detecttraces of BLOOD at the scene of a , the use of sodium carbonate producesa slow reaction in the oxidization process of he-moglobin.

2 It therefore is not very luminous andof brief duration only. Moreover, once the reac-tive agents dissolve in the water, the life of thesolution obtained is very short. This formula isvery unstable and is toxic, due to the presenceof Sodium 1966,Weberproposed a composition madeup of Luminol, sodium hydroxide or potassiumhydroxide, hydrogen peroxide diluted in solution so obtained needs to be keptin a cool place away from direct light. Its lifespanis brief. The luminous reaction obtained by thiscomposition can be photographed in total dark-ness, or filmed with a night-vision 2000, Jean-Marc Lefebvre-Despeaux, presidentof Roc Import, charged Loic Blum, , profes-sor of bio-chemistry at the University ClaudeBernard-Lyon and director of the enzymatic andbiomolecular engineering laboratory (EMB2-UMR 5013 CNRS-UCBL) to find a new formulathat would be Luminol-based and eliminate allthose numerous a result, Blumdiscovered this new formula that was subse-quently called BLUESTAR Forensic [1].

3 BLUESTAR Forensic is a patented powerful new la-tent BLOOD :How does Luminol react ?Luminol (3-Aminophthalhydrazide) was synthesizedfor the first time in 1853. Its property to produce achemo-luminescent reaction in basic solution in thepresence of an oxidizing agent on contact with bloodwas first observed by Albrecht in main components capable of catalyzing thisreaction for emitting light are the transition met-als haem and peroxidase. Haem is a biochemicalstructure that forms an integral part of peroxi-dase. This structure (Figure #1) is equally pres-ent in hemoglobin. In this manner, the presenceof hemoglobin thus of BLOOD can be revealedby taking advantage of the ability of haem to cat-alyze the chemo-luminescent property ofLuminol. In other words, a mix of Luminol + ox-idizing agent + alkaline agent, when placed in con-tact with BLOOD , will emit light [2].1 About the AuthorsThe authors of this article are M. Dawn Watkinsand King C. is senior latent-printexaminer/crime-scene investigator at the PalmBeach Gardens (Florida) Police Department.

4 Shehas been in the Forensic field for 32 years, holdsa Masters Degree in Criminal Justice, and is anIAI Certified Latent Print Examiner and SeniorCrime-Scene Analyst. Brown is the Crime-Scenesupervisor at the West Palm Beach (Florida)Police department. He has been in the forensicfield for 20 years, holds a Masters Degree inCriminal Justice, and is an IAI Certified SeniorCrime-Scene Analyst and Forensic Photographer. A Comparison of Visual Enhancement Chemicalsfor the Recovery of Possible BLOOD Stains at the Crime Scene Luminol vs. BLUESTAR Written By : M. Dawn Watkins MS. CLPE. CSCSA. King C. Brown MS. CSCSA. #1 This light reaction reacts in the 441-452 Nmrange emitting a blue/white light it is somewhatsimilar to that of a firefly. The reaction happenswhen oxidation occurs with the presence of he-moglobin, an extra Oxygen molecule jumps orbitand then returns to normal [2].Luminol is a Luciferin (A Pigment Made By Organisms,Which are Capable of Bioluminescence).

5 Bloodis a Luciferase (An Enzyme Present in theCells of Bioluminescent Organisms that Catalyzesthe Oxidation of the Luciferin). Luminol is a pre-sumptive test which gives off light instead of has a long history is said to be non-de-structive to BLOOD , DNA, non-corrosive to thecrime scene and highly sensitive 1:1,000, can detect the presence of BLOOD andthe presence of a cleanup and can detect patternsof removal. However, it does not react withenough resolution for fingerprint identification.(Figure #2) Luminol does react and produce some false pos-itives on the following types of surfaces: Plant Peroxidase-Plant Cells Which Actto Catalyze the Oxidation of a Substance ByPeroxide. Chemical Oxidants-Chemicals Which CauseOxidation- Certain Cleaning Chemicals- Metals Specialized Material that Makes a ChemicalReaction Happen More Quickly (Bleach).Luminol Formula:- 25 Grams Sodium .5 Grams Grams Sodium 500 ml. Distilled Water (500 ml. Solution).

6 Luminol Reagent Preparation:1. Add 4oz. of distilled water in a mixing Add a 4oz. bottle of Luminol Pre-mixed to the Mix the chemicals and the water Decant off the liquid into a spray bottle,leaving the sediment in the bottom of the mixing Always mix chemicals just prior to Shelf Life is very limited to several hours,even after Spraying Procedure:1. Set spray bottle to the finest Prepare photographic Darken the room, no light if Spray in a sweeping Immediately check for a Photograph the reaction as Photography:The Luminol reaction is very difficult to photographand the higher the ISO film speed the shorter theexposure time for 35 mm or digital Camera Settings 35 mm: 24 mm fast lens (f , , , ) 400 ISO film or faster Camera on a tripod Cable Release Aperture f-stop or wide opened Expose for 30sec. 45 sec. 60 sec. 90 Camera Settings Digital: 24 mm fast lens (f , , , ) 800 ISO speed or faster Camera on a tripod Cable Release Aperture f-stop or wide opened Expose for 15 sec.

7 30 sec. 45 sec. 60 sec. 120 sec. Check the view screen after each exposure for a properly ex-posed photograph. Complete Darkness is Forensic : BLUESTAR Forensic (Figure #3) is a new reagentwhose purpose is to reveal BLOOD stains that havebeen washed out, wiped off or which are invisi-ble to the naked product is intended forcrime investigators. Based upon chemilumines-cences, its unique formula qualifies it as the mosteffective BLOOD revealer available on the market,for crime scene as well as Forensic lab Forensic does not alter the DNA ofthe revealed BLOOD which allows for its subse-quent genotyping. Furthermore, it is non toxic,contrarily to the classic Luminol formula [2].Some of the features of BLUESTAR Forensic are: The extreme sensitivity of BLUESTAR Forensic al-lows the naked eye to detect bloodstains down to1/1000 dilutions, like minute traces or droplets thathave been washed off, with or without detergent. BLUESTAR Forensic has a stronger and longer-lasting luminescence that does not requiretotal darkness to be visible.

8 Good quality pic-tures can be obtained with an ordinary cam-era and film. With a little practice, BLUESTAR Forensicmakes it impossible to get confused betweenblood and false positives since the lumines-cence differs in color, intensity and duration. BLUESTAR Forensic works as well on freshblood as on very old or altered bloodstains,pure or diluted. BLUESTAR Forensic is easier and safer to pre-pare. Neither powders nor liquids to be mixed,but only fast-dissolving tablets. BLUESTAR Forensic can be sprayed over andover again on the same bloodstains for thesame resulting luminescence each time. Before use, BLUESTAR Forensic has a very longshelf-life and does not necessitate any specialstorage condition. Once mixed, BLUESTAR Forensic is stable andwill work for hours, or even several days. BLUESTAR Forensic is not toxic, thanks to theabsence of Sodium Perborate Tetra recycled. No residues left after drying. [2]2 Figure #2 Figure #3 BLUESTAR Forensic Sensitivity: BLUESTAR Forensic is more sensitive than other pre-sumptive field tests for BLOOD .

9 Bloodstains treatedwith BLUESTAR Forensic are visible over a 1/1000 mixed with the catalyst hydrogen per-oxide, and put in contact with the hem nucleus ofblood hemoglobin, the BLUESTAR Forensic oxidizes(enzymatic peroxydase activity) and emits an intensebase (420-440 nanometer) chemiluminescence vis-ible in the dark. BLOOD may be detected either pureor diluted, while fresh, or long after it has been dried,rinsed away, or cleaned away. [5] Its sensitivity is suchthat it will evidence BLOOD in quantity smaller thanthe minimum required to perform Forensic enables the DETECTION of invisibleor microscopic traces or BLOOD droplets, particularlyagainst dark backgrounds. The visualization of thestains does not depend on the size of the BLOOD -stains, but only on the actual presence of BLOOD [2]. BLUESTAR Forensic produces a more intense andlonger-lasting luminescence that does not needtotal darkness to be visible. BLUESTAR Forensiccan be sprayed several times on the same area,making observation and picture or movie takingeasier.

10 Evidential photographs can be taken withan ordinary camera and film, therefore suppress-ing the need for sophisticated equipment [2]. BLUESTAR Forensic False Reactions: BLUESTAR Forensic may produce false reactionsdue to the presence of certain household deter-gents, chlorine, some paints, varnishes, copper,certain iron metabolizing plants such as lichens,thyme, and some tree mosses, and certain soilscontaining iron. However differences in intensity,color (emission specter), and duration allow forvisual differentiation by experienced users. [5] BLUESTAR Forensic Photography:The luminescence that occurs upon applyingBlueStar Forensic BLOOD reagent lasts for severalminutes and BLUESTAR Forensic can be sprayed sev-eral times on the same area, making observation andpicture taking easier. Evidential photographs can betaken with an ordinary camera and film, thereforesuppressing the need for sophisticated Forensic 35 mmCamera Settings: 24 mm lens Camera with a Bulb Setting.