Honors Projects

Abstract

Latent blood visualizers have been used in forensic science since 1937 beginning with Luminol. These visualizers through different types of reactions react with trace amounts of blood that cannot be seen with the naked human eye. These different reactions produce color that can then be seen by examiners. The four types of latent blood visualizers that were compared is luminol, leuco crystal violet, fluorescein, and bluestar. Luminol and bluestar use chemiluminescence, fluorescein uses florescent, and leuco crystal violet uses oxidation to react with iron in hemoglobin. At crime scenes when blood is detected which includes with the blood visualizers the sample can be taken to produce a DNA profile. These visualizers are known to degrade DNA and a standard should be established based on which degrades the least amount of DNA to ensure the most accurate results possible. In conclusion luminol should be the standard, but due to it being a possible carcinogen if the use is not allowed in the future bluestar then should be the standard for gaining a DNA profile from blood that came into contact with latent blood visualizers. Luminol should be the standard due to having the advantage with different variables such as time, machinery, and different substrates.

Department

Chemistry

Major

Forensic Science

First Advisor

Dr. Travis Worst

First Advisor Department

Chemistry

Second Advisor

Dr. Crystal Oechsle

Second Advisor Department

Biological Sciences

Third Advisor

Christine Shaal

Third Advisor Department

Honors Program

Publication Date

Fall 12-7-2022

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