Forensic Biology Forensic Biology (Serology)(Serology)

FRSC 2001FRSC 2001Professor BensleyProfessor Bensley

Alfred State CollegeAlfred State College

Forensic Biology (Serology)Forensic Biology (Serology) What is Serology?What is Serology? Blood is composed of?Blood is composed of?

Formed elementsFormed elements FluidsFluids

Collection of Physical Evidence-BloodCollection of Physical Evidence-Blood Submit the Entire Stained Item if Submit the Entire Stained Item if

Possible!Possible! NEVER use plastic bags NEVER use plastic bags for for

packagingpackaging Allow item to air dry then package in Allow item to air dry then package in

paper, seal and labelpaper, seal and label Handle evidence carefully to prevent Handle evidence carefully to prevent

loss of trace evidenceloss of trace evidence

Bloodstain CharacterizationBloodstain Characterization Is it blood?Is it blood? From what From what

species did the species did the blood originate?blood originate?

If the blood is of If the blood is of human origin, human origin, how closely can it how closely can it be associated be associated with a particular with a particular individual?individual?

Is it Blood? Presumptive TestsIs it Blood? Presumptive Tests

Kastle-Meyer Color TestKastle-Meyer Color Test Uses chemical Uses chemical phenolphthaleinphenolphthalein

Is it Blood? Presumptive TestsIs it Blood? Presumptive Tests LuminolLuminol

Is it Human Blood?Is it Human Blood?

Antigen/antibody Antigen/antibody reaction reaction

Uses anti-seraUses anti-sera Ring Precipitin testRing Precipitin test Ouchterlony Double Ouchterlony Double

Diffusion TestDiffusion Test

Can I Individuate the Blood?Can I Individuate the Blood? ABO Blood TypingABO Blood Typing

Used almost exclusively until early 1990sUsed almost exclusively until early 1990s

Enzyme TypingEnzyme Typing

Other Body FluidsOther Body Fluids What is a Secretor?What is a Secretor? Seminal FluidSeminal Fluid

Cellular component = Cellular component = spermatozoaspermatozoa

Fluid component = seminal Fluid component = seminal plasmaplasma

Acid phosphatase = enzyme Acid phosphatase = enzyme from the prostate glandfrom the prostate gland

p30 (PSA) = prostate-p30 (PSA) = prostate-specific antigenspecific antigen

Other Body Fluids/TissuesOther Body Fluids/Tissues Saliva – test for amylaseSaliva – test for amylase Vaginal secretionsVaginal secretions Feces – urobilinogen (bile pigment)Feces – urobilinogen (bile pigment) Urine – test for ureaUrine – test for urea Hair – screening test looking for Hair – screening test looking for

presence of epithelial cells on rootpresence of epithelial cells on root