The effect of cleaning agents on Bluestar and luminol blood detection

Abstract

TAYLAR MILBURN and MARK FLOOD.  Forensic Science program, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV 26554.  The effect of cleaning agents on Bluestar and luminol blood detection

The goal of quality testing reagents is to minimize the chances of getting a false positive result, meaning the test is highly specific and is not susceptible to contamination.  Bluestar and luminol reagents are used to test for traces of blood left at a crime scene.  Often criminals will clean up blood evidence and claim the positive test results come from the chemicals in the cleaning solutions.  The objective of this study is to determine if different household substances can provide false positives when using Bluestar and luminol tests. Common household substances were placed/sprayed on to glass, wood, and plastic surfaces.  Samples were tested immediately after being applied to the surface, or after waiting for the substance to dry before spraying it with either BlueStar or luminol. The preliminary results for this research indicate that none of the substances tested provide a false positive other than bleach. Therefore, no household cleaning products other than bleach should interfere with detecting blood at the scene of the crime.  This research was made possible by WV Higher Education Policy Commission, STaR Division.