Serology and BLOOD. Serology The study of body fluids Examples… 1. Blood 2. Semen 3. Saliva 4. Sweat 5. Fecal matter 6. urine.

Serology and Serology and BLOODBLOOD

SerologySerology

The study of body fluidsThe study of body fluids Examples…Examples…1.1. BloodBlood

2.2. SemenSemen

3.3. SalivaSaliva

4.4. SweatSweat

5.5. Fecal matterFecal matter

6.6. urineurine

Blood TriviaBlood Trivia

% of body weight % of body weight contributed to bloodcontributed to blood

# of liters of blood in a # of liters of blood in a human bodyhuman body

Amount of blood loss Amount of blood loss that would cause that would cause DEATHDEATH

Amount of blood loss Amount of blood loss would incapacitate a would incapacitate a humanhuman

On average, 8 % of total body

5-6 liters in men 4-5 liters in females

40 percent blood volume loss, internally or/and externally, is required to produce irreversible shock (death). That would be 2000 ml

1.5 liters

Composition of bloodComposition of blood White and red blood cellsWhite and red blood cells Plasma (AKA serum Plasma (AKA serum

when re\moved from when re\moved from body)body)

Antibodies (proteins Antibodies (proteins involved in an immune involved in an immune response/attack)response/attack)

Antigens (proteins on cell Antigens (proteins on cell membrane that cause an membrane that cause an immune response)immune response)

ProteinsProteins Enzymes (peroxidase)Enzymes (peroxidase) PlatletsPlatlets

3 questions to ask when a maroon/red liquid is 3 questions to ask when a maroon/red liquid is found at the scenefound at the scene

Is it Blood?Is it Blood? Is it Human?Is it Human? Whose is it?Whose is it?

Is it Blood?Is it Blood?

Luminol TestLuminol Test Reaction of peroxidase in Reaction of peroxidase in

blood with luminol and a blood with luminol and a base base

forms a glowing forms a glowing substance when test is substance when test is positivepositive

Works to 3 x 10Works to 3 x 10-9-9 dilution dilution Does not destroy bloodDoes not destroy blood

Is it Blood?Is it Blood?

Phenolphthalein/ Kastle Myer Phenolphthalein/ Kastle Myer TestTest

Reaction of Peroxidase (an Reaction of Peroxidase (an enzyme in blood to break enzyme in blood to break down Hdown H22OO22) reacts with H) reacts with H22OO2 2

Then solutionis reacted with Then solutionis reacted with phenolphthalein, a positive test phenolphthalein, a positive test shows up pink…just like CSIshows up pink…just like CSI

However, it also turns pink in However, it also turns pink in the presence of potatoes or the presence of potatoes or horseradish, so care must be horseradish, so care must be taken at the scene.taken at the scene.

Is it HUMAN???Is it HUMAN???

Immuno AssayImmuno Assay Reaction between antibodies and antigensReaction between antibodies and antigens Positive test when blood clots formPositive test when blood clots form Can be used to determine if blood is Can be used to determine if blood is

another specific mammalanother specific mammal Is also used for blood typingIs also used for blood typing

Whose is it?Whose is it?

DNA analysis DNA analysis and use of and use of electrophoresis electrophoresis must be done…..must be done…..

But that’s But that’s another unitanother unit

Blood SpatterBlood Spatter

What can blood spatter TELL US?What can blood spatter TELL US?

ORIGINORIGIN Type of weaponType of weapon Direction blood was travelingDirection blood was traveling Location & movement of victim and Location & movement of victim and

assailantassailant # of blows/gun shot wounds# of blows/gun shot wounds

Passive Vs. ActivePassive Vs. Active

Passive vs. Active Blood LossPassive vs. Active Blood Loss

PassivePassive Due to gravityDue to gravity Dripping, oozing, poolsDripping, oozing, pools Low velocityLow velocity Usually large circular Usually large circular

dropsdrops Passive termsPassive terms::

• Drops • Drip patterns • Pools • Clots

ProjectedProjected An external or internal force An external or internal force

acting on bloodacting on blood Spurting or gushing bloodSpurting or gushing blood Impact spatterImpact spatter Can occur after death before Can occur after death before

blood coagulatesblood coagulates Sources: stabbing, Sources: stabbing,

beating,arterial spurt, cast off, beating,arterial spurt, cast off, expirated blood ( FROM expirated blood ( FROM LUNGS THROUGH LUNGS THROUGH MOUTH/NOSE),MOUTH/NOSE),

Med-high velocityMed-high velocity

Velocity of spatterVelocity of spatterRelative Relative speedspeed

Size of Size of spatterspatter

(diameter)(diameter)

Actual speedActual speed SourceSource

High velocityHigh velocity < 1 mm< 1 mm 100 ft/sec100 ft/sec Gun shotGun shot

sneezesneeze

Medium Medium velocityvelocity

1-4 mm1-4 mm 25 ft/sec25 ft/sec BeatingBeating

StabbingStabbing

Cast offCast off

Low velocityLow velocity 4-6 mm4-6 mm 5 ft/sec5 ft/sec Passive lossPassive loss

Passive vs. ActivePassive vs. Active

Arterial SpurtArterial Spurt

Spatter & VelocitySpatter & Velocity

Transfer Blood StainsTransfer Blood Stains

TRANSFER BLOODSTAINSTRANSFER BLOODSTAINS

A transfer bloodstain is created when a wet, bloody surface comes in contact with a secondary surface.

A recognizable image of all or a portion of the original surface may be observed in the pattern,as in the case of a bloody hand or footwear.

Transfer bloodstains can be further subdivided into; • Contact bleeding • Swipe or Smear • Wipe

• Smudge

TARGET SURFACE TEXTURETARGET SURFACE TEXTURE

The type of surface the blood strikes The type of surface the blood strikes affects the amount of resulting affects the amount of resulting spatter,including the size and spatter,including the size and appearance of the blood drops.appearance of the blood drops.

Blood droplets that Blood droplets that strike a hard smooth strike a hard smooth surface, like a piece surface, like a piece of glass, will have of glass, will have little or no distortion little or no distortion around the edge.around the edge.

Blood droplets that strike a surface with slight texture ( linoleum flooring) take on a slightly different appearance

Scalloping will occur around the edge of the blood droplets

Surfaces such as wood or concrete are Surfaces such as wood or concrete are distorted to a larger extent.distorted to a larger extent. Notice the spikes Notice the spikes

and secondary spatter presentand secondary spatter present

Blood Spatter VocabBlood Spatter Vocab

SplashesSplashes

SmearSmear

TrailsTrails

PoolsPools

Projected blood loss, Projected blood loss, having a tailhaving a tail

Left by bleeding Left by bleeding victim, touching victim, touching objectsobjects

Passive, left by victim Passive, left by victim when moving from when moving from location to locationlocation to location

Due to heavy passive Due to heavy passive bleeding, in one placebleeding, in one place

More VocabMore Vocab

SpikesSpikes

Void patternVoid pattern

ExsanguinationExsanguination

Cast OffCast Off

Poky, out juttings on a Poky, out juttings on a blood dropblood drop

Absence of blood in an area of Absence of blood in an area of spatterspatter

Indicating that an object or a Indicating that an object or a person was in the path of the person was in the path of the bloodblood

Bleeding to death, Bleeding to death, a.k.a. hypovolemic a.k.a. hypovolemic shockshock

Blood released or thrown from a

blood-bearing object in motion 

Cast OffCast Off

Which way did it go?Which way did it go? You can determine the You can determine the

direction that blood and other direction that blood and other liquids are traveling using tails liquids are traveling using tails and satellites.and satellites.

Tail: long projection on one Tail: long projection on one side of a dropside of a drop

Satellite: small droplets Satellite: small droplets Tails and satellites will always Tails and satellites will always

be on the front side of the be on the front side of the drop, or the side the blood drop, or the side the blood was moving towardwas moving toward

DirectionalityDirectionality

Look for tails……….Look for tails……….

Look for tails….Look for tails….

Point of ConvergencePoint of Convergence

POINT OF CONVERGENCEPOINT OF CONVERGENCE

The common point, on a 2 dimensional surface, over which the directionality of several bloodstains can be retraced.

Once the directionality of a group of stains has been determined, it's possible to determine a two dimensional point or area for the group of stains.

By drawing a line through the long axis of a group of bloodstains the point of convergence can be determined. Where the lines of the group of stains intersect one anotherthe convergence point can be established.

Point OF ORIGINPoint OF ORIGIN

Analyze THIS ……….Analyze THIS ……….

With BLOOD Timing is With BLOOD Timing is everything…everything…

Blood begins to clot from 3 to 15 min. Blood begins to clot from 3 to 15 min. outside of the bodyoutside of the body

If blood is dark shiny and jelly-like it is less If blood is dark shiny and jelly-like it is less than 60 minutes O.O.T.B.than 60 minutes O.O.T.B.

If the blood is clotted and contracts away If the blood is clotted and contracts away from plasma the blood is 2-5 hrs oldfrom plasma the blood is 2-5 hrs old

This is just a rough guideThis is just a rough guide