Forensic Serology - Blood

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts and terms related to forensic serology and blood analysis.

Forensic Science

Application of science to criminal and civil laws enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system.

Serology

Science that deals with the properties and reactions of serums, especially blood serum, by evaluating antigen-antibody reactions.

Forensic Serology

Testing employed by crime laboratories for the identification and differentiation of blood and body fluids/stains.

Blood

Slightly alkaline fluid made up of water, cells, enzymes, proteins, glucose, hormones, and other substances that circulates throughout the body.

Red Blood Cells

Erythrocytes that transport oxygen from the lungs to body tissues and carry away carbon dioxide.

White Blood Cells

Leukocytes produced in the bone marrow and responsible for immune responses.

Platelets

Irregularly shaped, colorless cell fragments involved in blood clotting.

Hemoglobin

Iron-containing protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen.

Plasma

Fluid portion of blood, composed mainly of water and containing various proteins and substances.

Antigens

Proteins located on the surface of red blood cells that are responsible for blood-type characteristics.

ABO System

Blood classification system recognizing different blood types based on antigen presence.

Agglutination

Clumping of cells in response to antibodies binding to specific antigens.

Leone Lattes

Developer of an antibody test for determining blood type from a dry sample.

Secretor

Individual with high levels of antigens in body secretions corresponding to their ABO blood type.

Timothy Cole

Victim of wrongful conviction; DNA testing later excluded him as a perpetrator.

Blood Typing

Process of determining an individual's blood type using sera for A and B antigens.

False Positive

A test result indicating the presence of a substance when it is not actually there.

Presumptive Tests

Initial tests indicating the presence of blood but not confirming it.

Confirmatory Tests

Tests that confirm the presence of blood and can identify its origin.

Ouchterlony Test

Method to determine the species origin of blood through antigen-antibody reactions in agar gel.

Microcrystalline Tests

Tests that form characteristic crystals from blood by adding specific chemicals.

Luminol Test

Detection method that produces light when it reacts with blood.

Kastle-Meyer Reaction

Color change test indicating blood presence; colorless to pink in a positive reaction.

Hemastix

A reagent strip used to detect the presence of blood.

Species Origin Determination

Process of identifying the species from which blood originated using various tests.

HemaTrace

A rapid immunochromatographic test used for detecting human hemoglobin.

Sensitivity

The ability of a test to correctly identify the presence of a substance.

Specificity

The ability of a test to correctly identify the absence of a substance.

Catalytic Activity

The ability of a substance to accelerate a chemical reaction.

Presumptive Human Origin Testing

Testing to indicate if the blood sample is human before confirmatory tests.

DNA Analysis

Method that allows forensic scientists to associate blood and semen stains to a single individual.

Peroxidase

An enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of substrates in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.

Lymphocytes

A type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system.

Granulocytes

White blood cells that help in the body's defense against infections.

Macrophages

Large immune cells that engulf and digest foreign substances and dead cells.

Hemostatic Chemicals

Substances that assist in the process of blood clotting.

False Negative

A test result indicating no presence of a substance when it is actually present.

Abnormal Reaction

An atypical response in a test that suggests unsatisfactory results.

Quality Control

Procedures to ensure test accuracy and validity in forensic laboratories.

Test Validity

How well a test measures what it is intended to measure.

Polymorphic Enzymes

Enzymes that vary in form among individuals within a species.

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Examination of bloodstains to reconstruct the events of a crime.

Chromatographic Technique

A method used for separating different components of a mixture.

Hemo-

Prefix referring to blood.

Fibrinogen

A plasma protein essential for blood clotting.

Electrophoresis

Technique for separating proteins based on charge and size.

Trace Evidence

Small quantities of materials that can be analyzed for forensic purposes.

Chromogenic Reaction

A chemical reaction that produces a color change.

Specimen Collection

The process of gathering samples for forensic analysis.

Chain of Custody

Process of maintaining and documenting the handling of evidence.

Immune Response

The body's defense mechanism against foreign substances.

Antibody-Antigen Complexes

Structures formed when antibodies bind to their specific antigens.