Chapter 6 - Serology Flashcards
Active bloodstains
The bloodstains acted upon by a force in addition to gravity
Albumin
- Most common protein in our plasma.
- Responsible for maintaining a proper fluid balance between our tissues and the rest of our bodies.
Amylase
An enzyme that breaks down starch and glycogen into its component simple sugars(mainly glucose)
Angle of Impact
The angle formed between the pathway of a blood drop and the plane of the surface that it strikes
Antibody
A “Y-shaped” protein molecule that can combine with a foreign antigen to disable or destroy the antigen
Antigen
Any substance that can stimulate the production of antibodies
Bile
- Fluid secreted by the liver and stored in the gall bladder
- Used to aid in the digestion of lipids
Blood pattern analysis(BPA)
Analysis of bloodstains found at a crime scene that attempts to provide an understanding of how the blood patterns found were physically formed.
Bone Marrow
- The soft, spongy tissue found in the center of bones.
- Where stem cells are taken from.
- It produces most of the cellular components of blood from stem cells.
Catalyst
A substance that accelerates a chemical reaction with being consumed in the reaction
Chemiluminescence
The emission of light from chemical reaction without the emission of heat
Confirmatory test
- Usually done after a positive presumptive test.
- Experiment that verifies the presence of a compound in the sample with a very high degree of certainty.
ELSIA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay)
:(
EMIT (enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique)
As if
Enzyme
a protein that catalyzes a specific biochemical reaction without being consumed in the reaction
Fluid dynamics
- Deals primarily with the behavior of liquids and gasses in motion.
- In blood analysis, it focuses on how blood flows and may involve calculations of density, velocity, and viscosity.
Fluorescein
- At a crime scene it is applied to the area where blood is suspected.
- Oxidized molecules absorb light in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum and emits light in the visible region, producing a blue glow.
Fluorescence
Phenomenon occurs when a molecule absorbs light at one wavelength and then emits light at another wavelength
Glycoprotein
- A protein with sugar components attached.
- Found in plasma membranes and in most secreted proteins.
Hemoglobin
- An important protein found in the blood.
- Deals with transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body.
- Gives blood it’s red coloring.
High velocity impact spatter (HVIS)
- A bloodstain pattern caused by a high velocity impact to a blood source.
- Striking object is moving at speeds of 100 ft/sec or faster.
Immunoassay
- Technique of identifying and measuring the amount of a substance in the blood (primarily through antigen-antibody interactions).
- Examples: immunoassay tests for blood types microbes, drugs, toxins, disease, etc.
Immunology
Branch of science that deals with the immune system.
Ischemia
- A low oxygen state in the tissues.
- When blood supply is cut off to a tissue or organ.
Kastle-Meyer Test
- Presumptive blood test using phenolphthalein and hydrogen peroxide.
- If blood is present, the solution immediately turns pink.
- Cannot discriminate between human and animal blood.
- Sometimes gives false positives.
Low velocity impact spatter (LVIS)
- Bloodstain pattern caused by a low velocity impact to a blood source.
- Usually at speeds up to about 5 ft/sec.
Luminol Testing
- Luminol is sprayed where blood is suspected.
- Reactions occur that cause it to glow in the dark.
- A blue glow can be seen and photographed.
- This does not destroy the DNA.
Medium velocity impact spatter (MVIS)
- Bloodstain pattern caused by a medium velocity impact to a blood source.
- Usually when the velocity of the object is between 5 and 25 ft/sec.
Monoclonal antibody
- An artificially prepared antibody.
- Is more uniform than our natural antibodies and that attacks/binds to only one site on a chosen antigen.
- Allow us to efficiently prepare pure antibodies in large amounts.
Passive bloodstain
A bloodstain acted upon primarily by the action of gravity alone
Phadebas reagent
The presumptive test reagent for saliva through detection of amylase
Plasma (blood)
- Liquid portion of blood
- Makes-up 55% of its volume
- Has glucose, amino acids, lipids, salts, and fatty acids to all cells in the body
- 92% water, 8% blood proteins
Platelets
- Account for 1% of blood cells
- Deal with blood clotting
- Help the self-repair processes of blood vessels
Peroxidase
Enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of a compound from the reduction of hydrogen peroxide
Presumptive test
- Analysis which can screen for, but not confirm, the presence of a particular substance in a sample
- Always require further confirmatory tests
Protein
- Organic polymer molecule made up of amino acids
- Their sequence of amino acids is dictated by the DNA genetic code
Radioimmunoassay
You’ll never guess this one
Red blood cells
- Flexible, disc-shaped cells, concave on both sides
- Account for about 96% of the cellular portion of blood
- Carries O2 from the lungs to the cells and return waste CO2 from the cells back to the lungs
- Main component is a protein called hemoglobin
Ring Precipitin Test
- Immunoassay test in which a soluble antigen reacts to form a precipitate when it combines with a specific antibody
- Main purpose is to determine if human blood is present
Saliva
- Body fluid produced by the salivary glands of the mouth
- Made-up of mostly of water with small amounts of proteins, enzymes and other substances
Satellite spatter
- Small droplets of blood distributed around a larger drop of blood
- Formed from the force of the impact with the surface
Secretor
- People that secrete blood antigens (A, B, O) in other body fluids besides blood.
Semen
semi-fluid containing cells, proteins, amino acids, hormones, carbohydrates, and other inorganic and organic compounds.
Produced by the male reproductive system to carry sperm.
Seminal Acid Phosphatase
Enzyme found in high levels in semen
Serology
The study of serums, body fluids, and liquids.
Serum
- Yellow solution obtained by first allowing blood to clot and then removing the solids by centrifugation
- Differs from plasma since it contains none of the clotting factors found in plasma
Sickle cell anemia
- Disease caused by a change of a single amino acid in hemoglobin.
- Result: RBC’s change to a sickle-shape under low O2 levels.
- Typically leads to anemia.
Sperm
Male reproductive cell
Substrate
Substance upon which an enzyme works
Surface tension
tendency of the molecules at the surface of a liquid to behave as if they were part of an elastic membrane
Sweat
Mostly saltwater solution that is secreted by sweat glands in an attempt to cool the body by evaporation
Transfer bloodstains
Pattern created when a wet, bloody surface comes in contact with another surface to form a print-like pattern
Transfusion
Addition of blood or blood components from a donor directly into the blood stream of a recipient.
Urine
solution comprised mostly of water and salts and used by the body to eliminate soluble waste products and to regulate ion concentrations
Viscosity
Measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow.
Vitreous Humor
Gelatinous fluid filling the eyeball behind the lens
White blood cells
- Fights off disease/infection and assists with cell repair
- Consists of a large group of cell types (NKs, monocytes, phagocytes, etc)
- Can be round or irregularly shaped
- 3% of the total number of blood cells
Coagulation
- Occurs when blood types are mixed
- Triggers an immune response (RBC’s clumping together)
