A comparison of the presumptive luminol test for blood with four non-chemiluminescent forensic techniques. |
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Authors: | Joanne L Webb Jonathan I Creamer Terence I Quickenden |
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Institution: | Chemistry M313, School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. |
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Abstract: | Presumptive blood detection tests are used by forensic investigators to detect trace amounts of blood or to investigate suspicious stains. Through the years, a number of articles have been published on the popular techniques of the day. However, there is no single paper that critiques and compares the five most common presumptive blood detection tests currently in use: luminol, phenolphthalein (Kastle-Meyer), leucomalachite green, Hemastix and the forensic light source. The present authors aimed to compare the above techniques with regard to their sensitivity, ease of use and safety. The luminol test was determined to be the most sensitive of the techniques, while Hemastix is a suitable alternative when the luminol test is not appropriate. |
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Keywords: | forensic science presumptive blood testing chemiluminescence luminol bloodstains |
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