Lecture 7 - Trace and Contact Evidence Flashcards
What is Locard’s Exchange Principle?
With contact between two items there will be an
exchange.
- every contact leaves a trace
What are the different types of forensic evidence?
Biological, physical, and impression evidence
What are the different lights in visual screening?
Sunlight
White light / torch
Oblique light
What does oblique light help show in visual screening?
Invisible evidence - helps fingerprints
What is crime lite?
Hand-held, high intensity light source
Filters alter wavelength allowing forensic evidence to be targeted.
Blood, semen, saliva, bone, teeth, hair,
fibres, shoeprints, fingerprints, gunshot
residue and accelerants.
What is the standard wavelength for crime lite and why do we alter wavelength?
415-420nm
Different wavelengths for different bodily fluids
What is biological evidence?
Body fluids or cells containing DNA which can be used for identification purposes.
What chemical tests are used for blood?
Combur, KM, Luminol
What chemical test is used for saliva?
Phadebas
What chemical test is used for semen?
ACP
What happens during a COMBUR test?
Catalytic reaction of haemoglobin on a peroxide substrate
Colour change from yellow to green
Sensitive but not specific
What happens during a KASTLE MEYER test?
Phenolphthalein is used to detect possible presence of haemoglobin
Colour change to pink
Less sensitive but more specific - false negative can arise
How is COMBUR test taken?
Add water, apply to evidence, turn green if Hb present - some other things will do
What happens during luminol test?
Reacts with iron in haemoglobin causing luminescence.
What blood test is done last and why?
Luminol
Last test due to mess and disruptive - clean up marks