Evaluation of the ability of three laboratory storage conditions to preserve soil contaminated blood for forensic serological analysis

Academic Paper from the year 2018 in the subject Medicine - Medical Frontiers and Special Areas, grade: A, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, language: English, abstract: Crime scene investigation is an important step in the entire criminal investigation process because this is where evidence is gathered. Blood from the perpetrator or victim of a crime can be left at crime scenes or transferred to other materials such as clothing, knives and guns. Most often, this body fluid is contaminated with soil at outdoor crime scenes but this might be the only or the most important evidence in solving a crime. This study aimed at identifying the most appropriate method of storing crime scene soil-human blood mixed sample prior to Hemastix and Hexagon OBTI serological analysis. Human blood was mixed with soil and stored at three different storage conditions (i.e., Room temperature/25?, 4? and -20?). Hemastix and Hexagon OBTI serological tests for blood and human blood, respectively were positive for soil-blood mixed samples at all storage conditions throughout a 12 week study period. In conclusion, all storage conditions can be utilized in storing crime scene soil contaminated samples at least for a 12 week period.