Technical Support for Electrophoretic Bloodstain Analysis Program: Final Report

• NCJ Number: 69250
• Author(s): B W GRUNBAUM; N PACE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 254 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-025-73; Z-84-7905-G
• Sponsoring Agency: Aerospace Corporation; US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: University of California, Berkeley
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT REVIEWS THE METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS OF THE BLOODSTAIN ANALYSIS SYSTEM (BAS), DEVELOPED BY BECKMAN INSTRUMENTS FOR THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION, AND INCLUDES SOME CRITICAL COMMENTARY DEMONSTRATING MISINTERPRETATION AND MISREPRESENTATION OF LABORATORY RESULTS.

Abstract

THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION SUGGESTED THAT IF THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF SMALL LOCAL U.S. CRIME LABORATORIES IS TO BE CONTINUED, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO DEVELOP RAPID AND/OR SIMULTANEOUS ELECTROPHORETIC SEPARATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF SEVERAL SELECTED ENZYME/PROTEIN SYSTEMS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE MORE EXTENSIVE BLOODSTAIN ANALYSIS. THIS STATED NEED LED TO THE CURRENT AEROSPACE BAS PROGRAM. MOST ELECTROPHORETIC SEPARATIONS OF ENZYMES AND PROTEIN SYSTEMS IN FORENSIC WORK ARE NOW PERFORMED ON STARCH GEL, EXCEPT FOR HEMOGLOBIN AND HAPTOGLOBIN. THE GEL METHODS REQUIRE LONG RUN TIMES, INCONVENIENCE, AND POSSIBLE ERROR IN PREPARING FRESH SUBSTRATES BEFORE EACH RUN. THE BAS PROCEDURE INVOLVED SIMULTANEOUS ANALYSIS OF EIGHT CONSTITUENTS ON THREE PLATES. HOWEVER, A CRITICAL EVALUATOR CONSIDERS THIS INNOVATION TO BE AN ADDED COMPLICATION TO AN ALREADY COMPLEX ANALYTICAL PROCEDURE. EXTENSIVE TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION ON THE BAS PROJECT IS PROVIDED.