NCJ Number
183374
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 44 Issue: 3 Dated: May 1999 Pages: 535-538
Date Published
May 1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses determination of post-mortem interval (PMI) from old skeletal remains by image analysis of Luminol test results.
Abstract
The Luminol test is routinely used in forensic serology to locate blood traces and identify blood stains not visible to the naked eye; its sensitivity is reported as ranging from 1:100,000 to 1:5,000,000. To evaluate the possibility of correlating the post-mortem interval with blood remnants in bone tissue, the Luminol test was performed on 80 femurs with a known time of death, grouped in five classes. Powdered bone (30 mg) was recovered from compact tissue of the mid-shaft of each femur and was treated with 0.1 mL of Luminol solution. The reactions were observed in a dark room and filmed by a television camera equipped with a recording tape. An intense chemiluminescence was observed after a few seconds in all femurs with a PMI ranging from 1 month to 3 years. On the 20 femurs with a PMI of 10-15 years, a clear chemiluminescence was visible with the naked eye in 80 percent of the sample. Among the 20 femurs with a PMI of 25-35 years, a weaker chemiluminescence appeared in 7 femurs. In femurs with a PMI of 50-60 years, a faint reaction was observed in only a single femur. Chemiluminescence was not observed in any of 10 femurs with a PMI over 80 years. Tables, references