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Use Of Luminol And Ultraviolet Fluorescence Methods For Estimation Of Time Of Death From Bone Tissue.

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Use Of Luminol And Ultraviolet Fluorescence Methods For Estimation Of Time Of Death From Bone Tissue.

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Use of luminol and ultraviolet fluorescence methods for estimation of time of death from bone tissue.

Ilayda Sam¹, Ozge Unluturk², Nadir Arican¹

¹Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul 34093, Turkiye.

Forensic Science International

|December 19, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Estimating time since death from skeletal remains using ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence and luminol chemiluminescence showed unreliable results. These forensic methods, while potentially supplementary, are insufficient alone for accurate postmortem interval determination.

Keywords:

Chemiluminescence Luminol Time since death Ultraviolet fluorescence

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Area of Science:

Forensic Science
Bioanalytical Chemistry
Anthropology

Background:

Estimating time since death (postmortem interval) is crucial in forensic investigations, especially with advanced decomposition or skeletonization.
Traditional methods for postmortem interval estimation face limitations due to environmental variability and taphonomic factors.
Novel techniques like UV fluorescence and luminol chemiluminescence are explored for skeletal remains.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the applicability of ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence and luminol-based chemiluminescence for estimating time since death from skeletal remains.
To assess the potential integration of these methods into routine forensic practice.
To determine the reliability and consistency of UV fluorescence and luminol chemiluminescence in relation to the postmortem interval.

Main Methods:

Analysis of 58 adult skeletal cases with known time of death.
UV fluorescence imaging using a 365 nm light source, with analysis in Adobe Photoshop.
Quantification of luminol chemiluminescence from bone powder using a microplate luminometer.

Main Results:

Both UV fluorescence and luminol chemiluminescence produced measurable signals from skeletal remains.
Neither method independently showed a reliable or consistent correlation with the time since death.
Environmental factors and taphonomic variables significantly influenced the results of both analyses.

Conclusions:

UV fluorescence and luminol analyses show potential as supplementary tools in forensic skeletal assessment.
These methods are currently insufficient as standalone techniques for accurate postmortem interval estimation.
Future research requires larger sample sizes and detailed taphonomic context for improved accuracy, especially for longer postmortem intervals.