Electron spin resonance of bloodstains and its application to the estimation of time after bleeding

The degradation of blood constituents in unheparinized dry blood was studied with electron spin resonance (ESR) at various temperatures. The intensity of ESR signals of methemoglobins, non-heme irons and organic radicals in dried human blood increases with time. Considering the kinetics of the signal growth, the formation mechanism of the paramagnetic species was discussed. The ESR signal (g = 4.3) of non-heme iron is usable in estimating the time after bleeding or injury using bloodstains.