Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Flashcards

1
Q

bloodstain pattern analysis

A

an in-depth evaluation of bloodstain pattern

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

factors to consider in bloodstain pattern analysis

A
  • size
  • shape
  • number
  • dispersion
  • volume
  • location
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what does BPA define?

A

the nature of the action that created it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

determinations from blood stains

A
  • height of impact
  • direction of travel
  • angle of impact
  • nature of the force
  • relative positions of individuals at a scene
  • the sequence of events may have occurred
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Dr. Eduard Piotrowski

A
  • first known, systematic study of bloodstain pattern
  • concerning the origin, shape, direction, & distribution of the bloodstains
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Victor Balthazard

A
  • explained Forensic Medicine importance to Congress
  • recognized empirical relationship of stain shape to angle impact
  • introduced the ‘stringing concept”
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Herb MacDonell

A
  • published seminal studies & provided the first training
  • flight characteristics & stain patterns of human blood
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

SWGSTAIN

A

mission to promote and enhance the development of forensic bloodstain pattern analysis practices through collaboration of government forensic laboratories, law enforcement, private industry, and academia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what is blood affected by?

A
  • gravity
  • surface tension
  • viscosity
  • air resistance
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what holds a blood droplet together in flight?

A

surface tension

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

gravity is consistent =

A

blood in flight in consistent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

viscosity

A

the resistance to flow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what is the effect of air resistance dependent on

A

droplet size

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

the smaller the droplet …

A

the greater the force effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

does blood spontaneously breakup?

A

not unless it is acted upon by an external force

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what path does blood take?

A

the path of least resistance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what special property does blood have?

A

an adhesive property

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Pattern Diversity Principle

A

combination of blood volume and forces acting on those volumes results in recognizable classes of patterns

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Principle of Stain Shape & Vector

A

the shape of the bloodstain provides indicators as to the direction of deposition & spatial origin of the blood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Physically Altered BPA Principle

A

exposed blood will react to environmental conditions in a predictable manner

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what force produces a high velocity blood splatter?

A

an external force greater than 100 feet/sec

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

high velocity blood splatter stains

A
  • sometimes referred to as a mist
  • tend to be less than 1 mm
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what creates high velocity blood splatter?

A
  • usually created by gunshots or explosives
  • may result from industrial machinery or expired air (coughing or sneezing)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

high velocity blood splatter travels

A

travels the shortest distance because of the resistance of the air against their small mass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

what force produces a medium velocity blood splatter

A

an external force between 5 feet/sec and 25 feet/sec

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

medium velocity blood splatter stains

A

generally measure 1 to 3 mm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

what creates medium velocity blood splatter?

A
  • blood flying from a body to a surface as a result of blunt or sharp force trauma
  • body colliding with rounded or edged surfaces/vehicles
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

what creates a low velocity blood splatter?

A

an external force less than 5 feet/sec (normal gravity)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

low velocity blood splatter stains

A

generally 3 mm and larger

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

what causes a low velocity blood splatter?

A
  • blood dripping from a person walking or running
  • bloody weapon
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

low velocity blood splatter drips

A

dripping blood often falls at a 90° angle & forms a 360° (circular) stain when it hits a flat surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

3 types of bloodstains

A
  • passive
  • splatter
  • altered
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

example of passive bloodstains

A

gravity

34
Q

example of spatter bloodstains

A

energy applied creating flight

35
Q

example of altered bloodstains

A

physically/environmentally altered

36
Q

passive blood stains

A
  • drop(s)
  • flow
  • large volume
37
Q

spatter bloodstains

A
  • impact mechanism
  • secondary mechanism
  • projection mechanism
38
Q

secondary mechanism

A

spines & satellite stains

39
Q

satellite stains

A

smaller bloodstain originating from a larger blood stain

40
Q

altered bloodstains

A
  • time lapse
  • diluted
  • diffused
  • insects
  • contact
  • voids
41
Q

wipe

A

moving through a pre-exisiting blood stain

42
Q

swipe

A

transfer from a blood bearing surface

43
Q

the basic premise of BPA theory

A

based on stain size, shape, volume, orientation, & other physical characteristics, the analyst can differentiate between basic types of blood shed events

44
Q

what must an analyst do to support any claim about a pattern?

A

must be able to articulate what characteristic led him to his decision

45
Q

BPA scientific process/method

A
  • data collection/gather case information
  • segregate patterns, then categorize the patterns
  • documentation, notes of sizes, shapes, directionality, areas or origin, etc
  • evaluate different hypotheses
  • test different theories
  • conclusions/results, supported by physical evidence
  • peer reviewed
46
Q

area of convergence

A

the area containing the intersections generated by lines drawn though the long axes of individual stains (2D)

47
Q

a longer blood stain is formed by

A

a lower angle of impact

48
Q

what increases spatter diameter?

A

height

49
Q

when do spines appear at the edge of a stain?

A

when blood drops come from greater heights

50
Q

direction of tail =

A

direction of blood

51
Q

equation: angle of impact

A

sin theta = width / length

52
Q

determining the area of origin

A
  • 3D location from which spatter originated
  • using the stringing method
53
Q

presumptive test

A
  • indicates possible presence of a substance
  • “this is likely saliva”
54
Q

confirmatory test

A
  • conclusively identify a substance
  • “this is definitely human saliva”
55
Q

pros of presumptive test

A
  • narrow possibilities & helps to decide which test to do next
  • can use on large areas
  • can locate evidence not visible with the naked eye
  • cost effective
  • portable
  • sensitive
56
Q

cons of presumptive test

A

many false positives

57
Q

pros of confirmatory test

A
  • conclusively identify a substance
  • wont waste money when moving on to DNA testing
  • MUCH smaller risk of false positives
58
Q

cons of confirmatory test

A
  • higher cost
  • require additional equipment
  • takes longer
59
Q

screening for bodily fluids - when not readily apparent

A
  • many body fluids fluoresce under a black light
  • things that fluoresce contain phosphors
60
Q

body fluids that fluoresce

A
  • urine
  • saliva
  • sweat
  • semen
61
Q

phosphors

A

substance that absorbs energy outside of the visible spectrum & re-emits the energy as visible light

62
Q

blood under a black light

A
  • does not fluoresce
  • it sometimes appears darker
63
Q

Human Blood Presumptive tests

A
  • Kastle Meyer Test
  • Luminol
  • Alternate Light Source
64
Q

Human Blood Confirmatory tests

A
  • Precipitin test
  • Hematrace
  • does not confirm DNA presence
65
Q

quality control

A

are the tests running properly?

66
Q

quality assurance

A

does the whole program work?

67
Q

negative control

A

not expected to produce results

68
Q

positive control

A

expected to produce results

69
Q

what should be a positive control?

A

where blood is present

70
Q

what should be a negative control?

A

where blood isn’t present

71
Q

Presumptive Blood Tests (Luminol & Phenolphthalien)

A
  • uses hemoglobin to catalyze the oxidation of certain reagents
  • hydrogen peroxide often used as oxidizing agent
  • visible as a color change
72
Q

Confirmatory Human Blood Test

A
  • Precipitin Test
  • ABAcard Hematrace
73
Q

ABAcard Hematrace

A
  • remove a piece of fabric/swab with suspected blood
  • add to provided vial (containing buffer) & shake
  • remove liquid from vial & put two drops in the same wells
74
Q

Human Semen Presumptive Tests

A
  • Acid Phosphatase
  • Prostate Specific Antigen
75
Q

Human Semen Confirmatory Tests

A
  • look under a microscope for morphology and stains
  • look for christmas tree in sperm
76
Q

Acid Phosphatase Test

A
  • presumptive test
  • semen will produce a positive color change in < 1 minute
  • affected by concentration & age of stain
77
Q

presumptive & confirmatory tests - Saliva

A

based on the presence of saliva alpha amylase

78
Q

Saliva Presumptive Test

A

Phadabas

79
Q

Saliva Confirmatory Test

A

RSID (Rapid Stain Identification) Test

80
Q

neutralization test

A

if AB antigens are present in the fluid they will react with (neutralize) antibodies, so that they don’t interact & agglutinate red blood cells with the same antigen

81
Q

saliva + antibody A + A Type RBC = no agglutination

A

saliva from a secretor of A saliva

82
Q

saliva + antibody A + A Type T RBC = agglutination

A

saliva from a non-secretor or saliva from a secretor without A type RBC