A Study on the Inter-Relationship Between Fingerprint Developing Techniques and Bloodstain Identification and Typing Methods

ABSTRACTMany advances have been made in both the fields of forensic serology in regard to bloodstain characterization and fingerprint identification. When a bloodstain impressioned fingerprint is found on key exhibit material, the two disciplines overlap. The possibility exists that one or more methods for developing fingerprints would be destructive to labile blood typing factors. This study found that the fingerprint powders used in this study do not adversely effect the human blood identification and the ABO, PGM, EAP and ADA blood characterization methods used. In addition, it was found that iodine fuming, ninhydrin and silver nitrate fingerprint developing techniques reduce the effectiveness of the bloodstain characterization methods used in this study. However, in cases where the advantages of using chemical developing methods over fingerprint powders outweigh the risk, there still exists much potential for bloodstain identification and grouping methods after the evidential value of the fingerprint ...