NCJ Number
177854
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 49 Issue: 3 Dated: May-June 1999 Pages: 261-268
Date Published
1999
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study compares the direct sensitivity of the refined Fluorescein and Luminol bloodstain enhancement techniques on various substrates.
Abstract
The comparison was subjective in nature and examined bloodstain sensitivity of each bloodstain enhancement technique relative to each other on various substrates (porous and nonporous). The Fluorescein technique was obviously more sensitive, and the results were tabulated as a sensitivity multiple. Results indicated that the Fluorescein technique was at least (2x) as sensitive, and perhaps as great as five times (5x) as sensitive as Luminol, with increased sensitivity following the addition of a commercial thickener. The Fluorescein and Luminol techniques can be serially administered. In circumstances where the documentation of one technique was not successful, the other can be serially administered as the alternative. In addition, the Fluorescein technique can be administered after the target has been dusted for fingerprints. Processing with protein stains to attain fingerprint evidence after the Fluorescein procedure has also been empirically demonstrated. Table, references