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Blood Trace Evidence on Washed Textiles - a systematic approach.

Carolin Edler¹, A Gehl², J Kohwagner³

¹Department of Legal Medicine, University of Hamburg-Eppendorf, Butenfeld 34, 22529, Hamburg, Germany. c.edler@uke.de.

International Journal of Legal Medicine

|February 17, 2017

Summary

Luminol can detect latent blood on washed clothing, even when invisible. This forensic technique successfully identified blood traces and DNA evidence on laundered fabrics, aiding criminal investigations.

Keywords:

Blood traces Chemiluminescence Luminol Washed clothing

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Area of Science:

Forensic Science
Biochemistry

Background:

Luminol is a widely used presumptive test for blood in forensic investigations.
Washing clothes can remove visible bloodstains, potentially hindering evidence collection.
Detecting residual blood and DNA on laundered garments is crucial for criminal investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the effectiveness of luminol for detecting blood and DNA on washed clothing.
To document chemiluminescence and macroscopic results after various washing procedures.

Main Methods:

Blood-marked fabric samples were subjected to different washing and drying methods using various detergents.
Chemiluminescence was assessed on washed samples.
DNA analysis was performed on samples exhibiting chemiluminescence.

Main Results:

Chemiluminescence was detected on 95.9% of blood-marked samples, even after visible traces were removed.
Complete DNA profiles or individual alleles were confirmed in 93.3% of tested cases.
Detection rates were high across different fabrics, detergents, and washing conditions.

Conclusions:

Luminol remains a viable tool for detecting latent blood and recovering DNA evidence from washed clothing.
The method is effective even when bloodstains are no longer visible to the naked eye.
This technique enhances the potential for forensic analysis of clothing in criminal investigations.