A comprehensive experimental study of industrial, domestic and environmental interferences with the forensic luminol test for blood

Creamer, J. I.; Quickenden, T. I.; Apanah, M. V.; Kerr, K. A.; Robertson, P.

Abstract

This paper presents the first comprehensive and quantitative study of substances that interfere with the forensic luminol test for blood. Two hundred and fifty substances have been selected on the basis of modern lifestyles and of contiguity with crime scenes. The intensity of the chemiluminescence produced by each substance has been measured relative to that of haemoglobin and the peak wavelength shift has also been determined. The following is a short list of nine substances that produce chemiluminescence intensities comparable with that of haemoglobin: turnips, parsnips, horseradishes, commercial bleach (NaClO), copper metal, some furniture polishes, some enamel paints, and some interior fabrics in motor vehicles. Care needs to be taken when the luminol test for blood is used in the presence of these substances.

Citation

Creamer, J. I., Quickenden, T. I., Apanah, M. V., Kerr, K. A., & Robertson, P. (2003). A comprehensive experimental study of industrial, domestic and environmental interferences with the forensic luminol test for blood. Luminescence, 18(4), 193-198. https://doi.org/10.1002/bio.723

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 6, 2003
• Online Publication Date: Aug 12, 2003
• Publication Date: 2003-07
• Deposit Date: Mar 16, 2025
• Journal: Luminescence
• Print ISSN: 1522-7235
• Electronic ISSN: 1522-7243
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 193-198
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bio.723
• Keywords: forensic science, presumptive blood test, chemiluminescence, luminol, interfering catalysts
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/46724457
• Publisher URL: https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bio.723