phd in blood spatter analyst

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The International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts is an organization of forensic experts specializing in the science of bloodstain pattern analysis. The IABPA is currently comprised of approximately 800 members, worldwide, from various scientific, law enforcement, criminal justice and academic backgrounds.

Read more ..., upcoming events, october 7-11, 2024, kansas city, missouri - usa, more info....

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Interested in presenting at our 2024 annual conference , for more information or to submit an abstract, click the link below:, announcements, hello fellow bloodstain pattern analysts, i am working on a phd dissertation and am collecting data about peer reviews. if you have ten minutes to complete this quick survey (follow the link below), i would very much appreciate it. feel free to share this link with other bloodstain pattern analysts, extra data is always helpful survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/q8gkf2r, amy santoro , mfs, cbpa, cscsa forensic scientist technical leader, crime scene investigations johnson county sheriff’s office criminalistics laboratory 11890 s. sunset dr. olathe, ks 66061.

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The Journal of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis - The official publication of the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts

Real Life Dexter: How to Become a Blood Spatter Analyst

The hit Showtime series “Dexter” centered on a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Police Department who moonlights as a serial killer. While the show is based on fiction, the job is very real and harder than Dexter makes it seem (probably due to his serial killer instincts).

A blood spatter analyst, a type of forensic science expert, investigates crime scenes and reconstructs crimes based on how bloodstains have formed on various surfaces in order to figure out exactly how a crime was committed.

Blood Spatter Analyst Job Description

Blood spatter analysts investigate patterns of blood or blood spatter in violent crimes like murders to find the killer and determine what happened. These forensic scientists can determine the type of weapon, number of blows, placement of both victims and suspects during and after an attack, and the window of time in which the crime probably took place.

The main duty of the job entails collecting and analyzing blood samples, stains and spatter found at the scene. The amount of blood could vary from a trace amount or a large volume, so different techniques are used to process the scene and collect evidence. Blood spatter analysts also write detailed reports on the findings to help detectives hunt down the criminal. The report may also be used in court cases, and analysts are often called on to testify in criminal hearings.

Blood spatter analyst jobs typically take place in the lab, and you may be required to know how to use and maintain crime scene lab equipment. You should have a strong background in forensic science and an understanding of the properties of blood and human anatomy to be able to find work in the field. Some states may also require certification to practice.

Blood Spatter Analyst Taking Pictures at a Crime Scene

Blood Spatter Analyst Jobs

Forensic science jobs all relate to each other; however, not all blood spatter expert jobs are the same.

Also known as bloodstain pattern analysts, you may be able to find an entry-level position working with blood as a forensic technician. In this position, you may collect more samples from crime scenes than just blood, but you will perform many of the same job functions.

Like forensic scientists who analyze blood, forensic serology is a specialty that involves studying bodily fluids found at crime scenes in addition to blood, such as urine, feces, semen, etc. Learn more about becoming a forensic serologist .

How is Blood Spatter Used in Forensic Science?

Like Dexter, blood spatter analysts are a type of forensic scientist that focuses on the blood portion of a crime. In the show, Dexter usually only needs to be at a crime scene if blood was found, and the real-life position is similar. Like a real blood spatter analyst, Dexter is sometimes at the scene of a crime collecting blood samples, sometimes sitting in a lab looking at a screen of data or even testifying in court as an expert to solve various crimes.

Real blood spatter analysts play a huge role by testifying in court to deliver criminal justice, such as in a past manslaughter case of Beverly Littlecrow. According to Saskatoon Star Phoenix , blood spatter analysts’ testimony directly linked killers to the fatal head injury of an Arizona woman. Experts discovered the amount of force and murder weapon used based on the blood at the crime scene, and were able to prove the killer’s story false, leading to a conviction.

However, the job also entails working long, irregular hours and spending a lot of time around potentially hazardous materials, such as body fluids carrying disease. Sometimes, bloodstain experts go on to work in the private sector as contractors or experts for private attorneys to mitigate these risks and potentially earn more money.

Forensic science is all about studying the mess of a crime scene and analyzing the details to identify criminals and convict them in a court of law. There are various types of forensic science jobs, including the following common roles:

Forensic Toxicology
Digital Forensics
Forensic Psychology
Forensic Pathology
Forensic Odontology
Computer Forensics
Blood Spatter Analysts

Blood Spatter Analyst Salary

Entry-level positions as blood spatter analysts often fall under forensic science technicians, who primarily work in labs and collect evidence at crime scenes. While these roles still explore the links between the scientific evidence and the suspects in the case, technicians often consult with experts in specialized fields or work together until they gain more experience.

According to the US Bureau of Labor (BLS), forensic science technicians earn a median salary of $60,590 per year as of 2020, and are expected to see an above-average job growth rate of 14% from 2019-29.

(Salary and job growth data for forensic science technicians reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2020. Figures represent national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Information accessed April 2021.)

Steps to Become a Blood Spatter Analyst

To become a blood spatter analyst, follow the steps below:

1. Earn a degree in natural science, such as biology, chemistry or forensic science. A graduate degree is usually necessary as well. Blood spatter analysts can earn a number of different degrees in forensic science to find entry-level work.

2. Gain certification through your state, if required.

3. Apply for blood spatter analyst jobs. Check out the states with the highest pay or see how competitive the position is near you.

4. Pass a background check and drug test.

5. Interview for the job and get hired in an entry-level position.

6. Expect to spend a few years completing on-the-job training before working cases alone.

7. Take workshops or classes to stay updated throughout your career.

How to Become a Blood Spatter Analyst

Every year the rate of crime continues to grow nationwide. This growing rate also increases the demand for more law enforcement professionals to solve these crimes. If you’ve ever watched a crime drama on TV, and who hasn’t, you’ve probably noticed how many of crimes are solved by law enforcement professionals.

Of the many law enforcement professionals solving crimes, many of them work behind the scenes , such as blood spatter analysts. If you’re wondering how to become a blood spatter analyst or what they do, get all the information you need not just on how to become a blood spatter analyst but what you can expect from this career.

What is a Blood Spatter Analyst?

Blood spatter analysts (BSA) are a type of forensic science technician . A blood spatter analyst, also known as a bloodstain pattern analyst, is a professional trained to work with blood found at crime scenes.

Although a lot of their time is spent at crime scenes, they also spend an almost equal amount of time in labs analyzing the blood, and blood patterns and determining how they fit into the crime scene. The work performed by these professionals is very important because the patterns made by blood can determine many things, including what direction the blood came from, what angle it came from, and even the type of weapon used in the crime.

Independent Forensic Services states that a BSA can determine not only where the victim was killed but even if the victim was laying on a couch and struck by a blunt object or something similar. The blood pattern can also help law enforcement know how long the victim has been dead.

According to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension , a BSA can determine how and where the victim was injured and when the victim died just by analyzing the blood drops. They can do this even by just looking at droplets of blood at the crime scene. With all this said, it’s no wonder why blood spatter analysts are such an important part of law enforcement and solving crimes. Their work and expertise in extremely valuable for solving crimes.

Career Outlook

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t provide career information specifically for blood spatter analysts, but they do offer it for forensic science technicians. Since blood spatter analysts are grouped in the same category as forensic science technicians , their career outlooks are very similar if not the same.

These professionals are expected to experience a job growth of 11 percent between 2021 and 2031, which is faster than that of other occupations. More forensic science technicians will be needed and hired to help law enforcement agencies solve crimes as quickly as possible. They’re also being employed to work with government agencies. About 2,000 new jobs should be created for this profession by 2031.

Blood spatter technicians or analysts generally work during the daytime but are also called in to work in the evenings or weekends. When a crime is committed, it’s often vital that the analyst gets to the crime scene as soon as possible whether it’s during work hours or on a rainy Saturday night. If a crime has been committed, time is of the essence. They may also be required to travel to other cities or jurisdictions.

Location always plays a big part in career growth and wage/salary potential.

States with highest number of forensic science technicians hired:

California – 2,670
Florida – 1,760
Texas – 1,690
Arizona – 910
New York – 760

Blood Spatter Analyst Salary

The salary earned by a blood spatter analyst can depend on where the individual works, the degree level earned, various certifications earned, and the geographical location. A May 2021 report by the BLS indicates that forensic science technicians earned wages ranging from $37,670 to $103,430 or more, and the average annual wage for that year was $66,850.

Their hourly wage was about $32.14. Different reporting agencies often offer different wage reports. ZipRecruiter reports that blood spatter analysts earned an average annual wage of $70,219 across the nation as of February 2023. Salary.com reports their average annual wage nationwide at $72,910.

States where forensic science technicians earned the highest wages:

Illinois – $90,330
California – $90,300
Massachusetts – $84,740
New York – $81,370
Oregon – $81,340

1. Earn a degree

For those wondering how to become a blood spatter analyst, the first step is earning a degree. The degree should be in forensic science, physical science, or natural science such as chemistry or biology. You can also choose to earn a degree in police science or criminal justice with a concentration in forensic science or blood spatter analysis.

2. Get an advanced degree for more opportunities

Although you can become a blood spatter analyst with a bachelor’s degree, many choose to earn a master’s degree for better career opportunities. While the bachelor’s degree may get you hired as a blood spatter analyst, many employers may require or prefer a master’s degree because there is a lot to learn in this field, and much of it is only learned in a graduate program. A person may gain employment as a blood spatter analyst with an associate degree in this field if the candidate has several years of relevant work in this area.

3. Get certifications

Additionally, the individual may wish to earn certain certifications that may require a graduate degree. Various forensic science degrees can be earned by blood spatter analysts. Courses in this program may include statistical analysis, criminology, constitutional law, anatomy, and biology, among others.

4. Complete on-the-job training

Blood spatter analysts, like other forensic science technicians, are usually required to complete a year or two of on-the-job training working under a supervisor before being allowed to work on their own. Some students also apply for internships to gain some real-world experience. Even after being employed, these crime analysts attend workshops or classes to enhance their knowledge and skills.

Day in the Life

If you’ve watched crime shows like Law & Order, CSI, or even Dexter, you know how law enforcement agencies use blood analysis for DNA profiling. However, blood spatter analysts use blood for so much more. To say their daily workday can be exciting yet challenging is an understatement. In addition to using their knowledge of blood, they use cameras, sketching materials, and cutting tools.

Everything they see at the crime scene must be documented. While they often work independently, they also work with criminal investigators. They work for any agency that deals with violent crimes. These agencies include police departments, forensic science companies, and public crime labs. In addition to the blood-related work they do, they may also perform forensic autopsies .

If blood spatter analysts were asked what they do, or how they spend their days, they would probably say they go to crime scenes, assess the blood, take pictures, and go back to the lab to analyze the blood and make their determinations. However, they do a whole lot more than just that.

They have a very busy day and a lot of responsibilities. Their work alone may be enough to be vital in solving a crime. Here are a few of the many things they do throughout their workday.

Travel to the crime scene to inspect the entire area.
Gather and preserve blood samples
Analyze the location, shape, size, and consistency of the blood drops
Use and maintain lab equipment
Take pictures and make sketches of the crime scene
Consult with law enforcement, detectives, and other forensic experts
Determine what kind of weapon was used to commit the crime
Write up a detailed report of findings and their thoughts about the crime
Reconstruct the scene of the crime
Testify in court as expert witnesses
Give their findings to detectives, lawyers, and law enforcement
Perform microscopic and chemical analyses on the blood and other evidence

Licensure, Certification, and Continuing Education

Licensure is typically not required by law to work as a blood spatter analyst, but this can vary from state to state. It can also vary by law enforcement agencies. Aspiring blood spatter analysts are advised to check with their state to learn the requirements. Even in an area where licensure is not required, the individual may choose to obtain certification, or the employer may require certification.

One agency that offers bloodstain pattern analyst certification is the International Association for Identification . However, there are specific requirements that must be met for the analyst to obtain this certification.

The candidate must have at least 240 instructional hours on bloodstain pattern analysis and interpretation. Of these hours, 100 of them must be specific to bloodstain pattern analysis. The remaining 140 must be completed through coursework, and the courses must be board-certified. Some course topics include:

Evidence recovery
Crime scene investigation
Forensic science and technology
Blood detection techniques
Forensic photography
Medicolegal death investigation

When completing the 240 hours of instruction, the student can complete up to 20 of those hours online. In addition to completing the 100 hours of bloodstain pattern analysis, the individual must have at least three years of work experience in this specific field. Regarding educational requirements, the individual must have at least a bachelor’s degree.

The candidate must also provide two letters of recommendation from individuals who are knowledgeable of the candidate’s experience and expertise in this area. Once the individual has satisfied all these requirements, he or she can take the certification exam, which is the final step in the certification process.

The six-hour exam, which consists of both true/false and multiple-choice questions, must be passed with a score of at least 75 percent. The certification is good for five years. To maintain certification, the analyst must complete at least 50 continuing education credits throughout the five years and take a recertification exam.

Certain courses may also be required to maintain any certifications the individual may have. Blood pattern analysis is a constantly growing field that requires the individual to keep up with new software and techniques. A potential employer may want a blood spatter analyst proficient in and knowledgeable of rapid DNA testing. HemoSpat, alternative light photography, and high-powered microscopic systems.

Continuing education is vital in this career because new blood pattern analysis software is constantly being developed. It’s necessary for blood spatter analysts to keep up with the rapidly growing technology.

Researching how to become a blood spatter analyst is just the first step. Earning your education and getting a foot in the door is a big part of this career path as well.

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Blood Spatter Analyst Career Guide

Blood spatter analyst.

A blood spatter analyst or bloodstain pattern analyst collects and performs analysis of blood evidence left behind at a crime scene. They work on the forensic science team to analyze the evidence with modern technology and proven techniques to determine what occurred.

Analysts can pursue Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Certification through the International Association of Identification. The International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts (IABPA) offers opportunities to attend in-person instruction and network with other professionals through its annual conferences.

Blood Spatter Analyst Job Duties and Tasks

Collect bloodstains and traces.
Photograph and videotape bloodstains.
Collect blood samples for DNA profiling.
Exercise precautions to avoid cross-contamination of blood or trace evidence.
Document what is found to maintain a record of the scene integrity.
Work with forensic serology to test if the bloodstain is blood or another substance.
Obtain training in the latest proven methodologies and techniques.
Present evidence and analysis in court.

Analysts receive a majority of their training on the job and often start their career under the supervision of an experienced analyst. The work week can occur during normal hours but analysts must be prepared to be called to the scene of a crime at any time of the day or night. To meet the deadlines of an important case, analysts may need to work long hours to complete their work in time.

Due to the nature of the work, analysts may come into contact with hazardous body fluids and must take precautions to minimize exposure. Experienced analysts can find positions at state and federal law enforcement agencies or find work in the private sector for a defense law firm or as a consultant or trainer.

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Physics Offers New Perspective on Blood Spatter Investigations

by Michael Fortino, Ph.D.

Blood Spatter Analysis (“BPA”) for years has been a state of the art, highly-sophisticated forensic consideration in determining the trajectory and origin of a crime scene gunshot, yet recent advancements in physics have now turned the science of blood spatter investigations “inside-out.” Following the study of “turbulent vortex rings,” the pressure emanated from the barrel of a gun, scientists are now reconsidering the effect that such vortexes may have on diverting blood spatter in the opposite direction from what was previously believed to be impossible.

According to an article appearing on forensicmag.com , BPA which is described as an intricate piece of the crime scene puzzle, now faces a substantial error ratio showing the possibility of an overestimate of blood “drag and gravity” patterns which may have been miscalculated by as much as 50% from their original projection. This advancement in physics could play a significant role in the reversal of a multitude of previously unsolved homicide cases, many of which were deemed suicide as a result of a lack of blood spatter evidence.

In brief, when a weapon is fired at point-blank range, propellant gases from the gunpowder are discharged from the end of the barrel at high speeds forming what forensic scientists describe as “turbulent vortex rings” or waves of pressure emanating from the muzzle gases discharged at the time of fire. Using high-speed shadowgraphy, the effect is observed visually as waves or vortexes that appear much like the distortion seen within a wind and thrust testing tunnel in the study of supersonic aircraft. Even at point-blank range, researchers are now demonstrating that blood spatter droplets may actually propel backward from the shooter and toward the victim, the opposite of what has been the traditional science of crime scene forensic analysis.

According to Alexander Yarin, distinguished professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago, “This means that [blood] droplets can even land behind the victim, along with forward spatter caused by a penetrating bullet.” In past investigations, criminal defense attorneys have relied on the lack of blood spatter on the defendant to assert the innocence of defendants in close-range shootings. Modern physics may now refute that defense.

The research was first considered following an investigation into the high-profile celebrity murder of actress Lana Clark, found shot to death in the mansion of record producer, Phil Spector in 2003 by a single gunshot wound to her face. Spector, at the time of the shooting, was originally vindicated following the testimony of a witness who observed him running from the house shortly after the shooting while wearing all white clothing. Upon arrival at the crime scene, investigators noted that Spector was without a single drop of blood on his clothing, suggesting he could not have been involved in a point-blank shooting. The death was originally deemed an accidental suicide until scientists reconsidered the physics of turbulent vortex rings and their effect on blood splatter analysis. Despite his pristine outfit at the time of the killing, Spector’s fate as a murderer would eventually be sealed.

In a published white paper entitled “Physics of Fluid,” theoretical and experimental analysis explains how, as a result of the turbulent vortex, a murder suspect could shoot someone in the face at point-blank range and emerge from that shooting with zero bloodstain evidence on his or her person. Unfortunately for the suspect, the physics is indisputable.

The analysis has inspired the reopening of a multitude of cases previously ruled as suicide despite the existence of highly unusual and suspicious circumstances surrounding individuals named as “parties of interest” in each case. Physics may eventually “catch up” with those guilty parties who previously thought they made a “clean” getaway.

Source: forensicmag.com

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How to Become a Blood Spatter Analyst

Home / Criminal Justice / How to Become a Blood Spatter Analyst

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Blood Spatter Analysts are specialized individuals who work with other professionals such as law enforcement and forensic scientists to solve a variety of homicides or other violent crimes.

Individuals who want to become a Blood Spatter Analyst may find themselves having a passion for solving crimes and working with law enforcement to help solve them.

Individuals who join this profession must have a strong attention to detail as the information they gather from a crime scene is used to solve serious violent crimes.

The attention to detail is so important, that some forensic evidence is not visible to the human eye and must be observed in a laboratory setting.

Table of Contents

Education Requirements to Become a Blood Spatter Analyst

Blood spatter analyst job description, national average salary, average salary by state.

These are the top 5 earning states in the field:

What is a Blood Spatter Analyst?

How much does a blood spatter analyst make, how much does it cost to become a blood spatter analyst, what is the demand for blood spatter analysts, how long does it take to become a blood spatter analyst.

In order for an individual to become a Blood Spatter Analyst, they must first seek a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Although a specific major or degree is not required, an individual can opt to focus their major in Criminal Justice or Forensic Science to help them prepare for a career as a Blood Spatter Analyst.

During their college career, an individual who wants to become a Blood Spatter Analyst must take a variety of classes to help them understand the human body such as anatomy and biology.

In addition, individuals must also take classes in constitutional law, criminology and statistical analysis to understand the technical terms needed for this job.

Furthermore, individuals need to take specialized classes to learn more detailed information on blood and forensics.

Such classes will give in depth information on blood, crime scene reconstruction, location and movement as well as the type of damage certain types of weapons will cause.

For example, a criminal using a knife to commit a crime will leave behind different evidence than an individual using a shotgun or gun.

Professionals working as a Blood Spatter Analysts can take pride in the fact that their daily job duties are essential in assisting law enforcement and other crime solving professionals.

Their line of work is geared to helping these professionals solve a variety of violent crimes or murders.

Blood Spatter Analysts begin working on a crime when they first receive blood samples in their laboratory.

Depending on the quantity and quality of forensic evidence gathered at the scene, Blood Spatter Analysts have the task of analyzing any amount of evidence collected at the scene.

For example, some crimes or violent actions may not create a lot of blood, but with the evidence and samples gathered, Blood Spatter Analyst will still be required to examine any amount of blood samples, no matter how small it is.

A Blood Spatter Analyst’s skills in attention to detail are of utmost importance when receiving a small amount of blood to analyze.

On the other hand, Blood Spatter Analysts may also run into the opposite and have a large amount of blood to analyze.

For trace amounts of blood, these professionals may have to use complicated tools such as Ultraviolet light to detect a small amount of blood at a crime scene.

Their attention to detail may also help solve cases in which a violent act or crime was covered up or cleaned after the fact.

In these cases, UV lights will also be used to track traces of DNA and blood.

Blood Spatter Analyst Salary and Career Path

The median income for Forensic Technicians, which includes the Blood Spatter Analyst profession was approximately $52,840 in 2012.

The job outlook for this industry is expected to grow by 6 percent through the year 2022 which is considered slower than average when compared to other professions and fields.

The interest for forensic science has increased due to its exposure on popular television.

Because of this, the competition for jobs in this field has tightened as well.

However, individuals with advanced Master’s degree in Forensic Science or a Bachelor’s in Natural Science will have the best prospects for jobs.

Individuals who are interested in this profession, will also benefit by looking into similar professions such as a Forensic Scientist, Crime Laboratory Analyst or in the criminal justice field to increase their chances of working in this profession.

The top earning state in the field is New York, where the average salary is $72,500.

The top earning state in the field is New York, where the average salary is $6,000.

The top earning state in the field is New York, where the average salary is $34.85.

Frequently Asked Questions

Blood spatter analysts are forensic science technicians specialized in collecting and analyzing blood evidence.

They examine the location and shape of bloodstains in order to help detectives and investigators solve cases.

Blood spatter analysts take photographs, collect, catalog and preserve evidence, write reports and testify in court.

Blood spatter analysts who investigate crime scenes may work day, night or evening hours and may have to work overtime because they must be available to collect and analyze evidence.

Those who work in laboratories usually work normal business hours but they may also have to be on-call if they are needed to work immediately on a case.

Blood spatter analysts are forensic science investigators.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, forensic science investigators earned an annual salary of 58,230 in May of 2018.

Annual wage varies depending on the employer and the level of experience.

The top 10% earn around $97,200 per year while the bottom 10% earn around $34,600.

Blood spatter analysts need a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry or similar field.

The cost of earning a bachelor’s degree can range anywhere between a little over $11,000 to more than $50,000.

Tuition costs vary depending on the chosen college or university.

If you want to have better job prospects you should also consider getting a master’s degree.

A master’s degree program costs, on average between $20,000-$30,000 per year.

Certification requirements for forensic science technicians vary by state.

The certifications are offered by the International Association for Identification and by the American Board of Criminalistics.

The US Board of Labor Statistics doesn’t record data about blood spatter analysts but they track job demand data about forensic scientists.

The demand for forensic science technicians is expected to grow 14 percent between 2018-2028, much faster than the demand for all other occupations.

The reliability and usefulness of objective forensic information used in trials are expected to grow even more in the future thanks to scientific and technological advances.

Therefore, more forensic scientists will be needed to provide forensic information.

The competition for this type of job is expected to be strong, this is why you should also consider getting a master’s degree in order to have an advantage over the other candidates.

Blood spatter analysts, as all forensic science technicians need at least a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology or forensic science.

Getting your degree can take 3-4 years, depending on college and program.

If you want to have better chances at getting a job in this field, you should also get your master’s degree.

Master’s degree programs can be completed, on average, in 1.5-2 years by full-time students.

After being hired, you may also receive additional on-the-job training while working under the supervision of an experienced analyst.

It can take up to 3 years until you’re ready to handle cases on your own.

Related Careers

Forensic scientists work in the crime lab; they are civilians, not police officers.

Crime scene investigators or CSIs) work alongside police officers to help solve crimes.

Data analysts are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data from multiple sources.

Business analyst is a person who analyzes and documents the market environment, processes, or systems of businesses.

Blood Spatter Analysis

Blood spatter analysis or Blood stain pattern analysis (BSPA) is the interpretation of blood stains for the reconstruction of crime scenes to assist in the investigation of violent crimes. A spatter stain refers to the blood stains that result from blood droplets that are projected through the air, due to an external force applied to a source of liquid blood. These stains can vary in size and shape which are affected by the velocity, direction, and angle of impact of the spatter stains, and can be used by forensic investigators to determine the location and direction of the blood source.

ANALYZING SPATTER STAINS

In bloodstain pattern analysis, a parent stain refers to the initial, larger bloodstain that is created when a blood drop falls on a surface. It can be used to determine the origin and direction of the bloodstains. A satellite stain , on the other hand, is a smaller blood stain that is created as blood droplets from the parent stain fall and hit a surface. Satellite stains are typically found in close proximity to the parent stain and can be used to confirm the direction of the bloodstain.

Figure: Formation of parent stain and Satellite stains

1. Velocity of Blood droplets

Determining the velocity of the blood spatter can help in the identification of the weapon and strength of impact. Different weapons vary in the velocities they can impart, resulting in various types of velocity impact spatters. For Example- The velocity of a bullet would be different than the velocity imparted by swinging a hammer. As the travelling speed of blood droplets increases, the size of the spattered stain decreases. Based on different velocities at which blood is travelling, bloodstains can be divided into three categories:

a) Low-velocity impact spatter is formed by a low-speed impact on the blood source. The resulting blood droplets are usually >4 mm in diameter and would have a velocity of less than 5 feet/sec.

b) Medium-velocity impact spatter is usually formed when the blood source is subjected to impact force similar to beating, stabbing, or blunt force injury from a bat, hammer, etc. The resulting blood stains range from 1 to 4 mm in diameter and would have a velocity of 5-25 feet/sec.

c) High-velocity impact spatter is formed when a blood source is subjected to a force associated with a gunshot wound. This results in an extremely high percentage of very fine specks of blood travelling at a speed of 100 feet/sec or above, and all under 1 mm in diameter.

2. Direction of bloodstains

When a blood drop strikes a surface at 90°, the resulting blood stain is almost spherical. However, at an angle between 0° and 90°, an elongated elliptical stain is formed. As the angle of impact increases, the more elongated the blood stain gets. These elongated blood stains have a characteristic “tail” or “spine” at one end, pointing towards the direction of travel.

Figure: Direction of bloodstains and angle of impact

3. Angle of Impact

In bloodstain pattern analysis, the angle of impact refers to the angle at which a blood droplet impacts a surface. The angle of impact (α) can be calculated by measuring the width ( w , also called the minor axis) and the length ( l , also called the major axis) of the parent stain using the following trigonometric equation:

sin α = w l

To avoid any human error, bloodstain pattern analysis software can be used to get precise and reproducible measurements to determine the angle of impact.

This image explains how blood droplet falls on the ground and how to calculate the angle of impact for blood spatter analysis

Figure: Calculation of Angle of Impact in Blood Spatter Analysis

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Types of blood spatter stains, blood group systems.

Original Article
Open access
Published: 21 May 2021

Blood pattern analysis—a review and new findings

Prashant Singh ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1340-1789 1 ,
Nandini Gupta 1 &
Ravi Rathi 2

Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences volume 11 , Article number: 9 ( 2021 ) Cite this article

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Blood is one of the most common pieces of evidence encountered at the crime scene. Due to the viscous nature of blood, unique bloodstain patterns are formed which when studied can reveal what might have happened at the scene of the crime. Blood pattern analysis (BPA), i.e., the study of shape, size, and nature of bloodstain. The focus of this paper is to understand blood and BPA. An experimental finding to understand blood stain formation using Awlata dye was conducted within the university premises under laboratory conditions. Awlata ( Alta ), an Indian dye used for grooming of women, was used to create fake blood stains to understand the formation of bloodstains with respect to varying heights, and their relation with spines and satellite stains was determined.

When the height of dropping fake blood increased, the distance of satellite stains emerging from the fake blood stains was also increasing. From the experimental finding, it was found that satellite stains were directly proportional to height of blood stain and spines were inversely proportional.

It can be concluded that blood is a vital source of information and when interpreted correctly it can be used as a source of information that can aid in investigations. Thus, a relation between formation of blood stains with relation to height was established. This finding using fake blood stains can help in carrying out future studies.

The study aims to determine the relationship between spines and satellites stains in accordance with varying heights using Awlata dye. It involves creation of fake bloodstains using Awlata dye to determine this relation. The study also seeks to suggest the use of Awlata dye for studying bloodstains for conducting future studies.

Blood is an organic fluid circulating in our body that is essential to maintain life; it includes blood cells and plasma that accounts for approximately 8% of body weight. Blood ranges from 4–5 L (female) to 5–6 L (male). Blood has few bodily capabilities which can be required for its morphological interpretation like specific weight, viscosity, and surface tension (Peschel et al. 2011 ; Bevel and Gardner 2012 ). Viscosity in terms of blood may be described as the pressure of the flow of blood, due to shear stress or extensional stress inside the body (Bevel and Gardner 2012 ). An elastic-like property of a fluid due to cohesive forces between liquid molecules is surface tension (Larkin et al. 2012 ). Blood possesses fluid nature inside the body or when it exits from the body due to an impact/injury (James et al. 2005 ). If there were blood clots in the blood found at the crime scene, it suggests that the victim was exposed to an extended injury (Peschel et al. 2011 ; Bevel and Gardner 2012 ).

Blood can exit from the body as drip, spurt, etc., or can even ooze from wounds depending on the type of infliction/damage. BPA is a type of examination that includes the interpretation of shapes of the bloodstains (James et al. 2005 ). Blood pattern analysis aims to reveal the physical events that might have occurred at the crime scene. These bloodstains can be interpreted by their shape, size, and distribution (Brodbeck 2012 ). The facts acquired from BPA can help in crime scene reconstruction, corroborating witness statements, for the investigative procedure (James et al. 2005 ). If bloodstains at a crime scene are either dried or removed by the assailant, they can still be recovered by spraying luminol. Luminol (5-amino-2,3 dihydro-1,4-pthalazine-dione) can be used to detect the presence of minor, unnoticed, or hidden bloodstains diluted down to a level of 1:10 6 (1 μL of blood in 1 L of solution) which gives chemiluminescence or glowing effect when it reacts with dried bloodstains (Quickenden and Creamer 2001 ).

Luminol solution is usually directly sprayed in completely dark environments, and then UV (ultra violet) light visualizes the sample (blood). The fluorescence obtained is then photographed or filmed. Luminol can be used to identify minor, unnoticed, or hidden bloodstains, and it also has a high sensitivity to old blood or completely dried blood but, unfortunately, luminol can react with detergents, metals, and vegetables to give false-positive results (Barni et al. 2007 ). Sometimes, there are probabilities that the bloodstain recovered had been created using certain substances (dyes/stains) to deceive the investigators. To distinguish whether a sample is blood or not, assays like Kastle-Meyer (phenolphthalein test), Medinger reaction (Leuco malachite Green), and Tetramethylbenzidine test are used, but they cannot satisfactorily confirm blood (preliminary tests). So, for the confirmatory evaluation of blood, Teichmann and Takayama tests are performed to distinguish if the samples were blood or not (Saferstein and Hall 2020 ). It is also very important for the analyst to determine the origin of species of blood (whether human or animal) by precipitin test; this is often necessary to avoid confusion in investigative findings. There are several conditions in which the bloodstain patterns are disturbed/altered and in such cases, no useful information can be interpreted. So, DNA analysis is utilized for providing investigative leads (Saferstein and Hall 2020 ). When the bloodstains are suspected to be from multiple sources, the investigator can often rely on DNA to reveal valuable details about the crime. So, in the case of multiple victims, analysts often use DNA profiling to determine whose blood it was (James et al. 2005 ; Karger et al. 2008 ).

Bloodstain patterns distributed at the crime scene can be used for the reconstruction of an event (Comiskey et al. 2016 ). Before reconstruction, an analyst must have a comprehensive view of the overall picture and use the step-by-step approach to differentiate and analyze the bloodstain patterns and search for the informative points (James et al. 2005 ). It is also required that the investigator must create a hypothesis on the formation of blood patterns due to injuries. Reconstruction can be further improved by the contribution of case descriptions and statements (witnesses/perpetrators) that can provide insights on the sequence of events. Hence, to carry out an effective reconstruction, both casework experience combined with knowledge of injuries should be known (Karger et al. 2008 ; Kunz et al. 2013 ; Kunz et al. 2015 ).

Types of bloodstains

Passive patterns.

It is a type of bloodstain pattern formed due to gravity, patterns like drip stain, flow stain, blood pool, and serum stain are observed. A drip stain is a drop falling without any disturbance that can take a spherical shape without disintegrating into smaller droplets. Bloodstains, depending on the angle, can cause the blood drop to have a circular or slightly elongated shape; this helps in the determination of the angle of impact (Swgstain 2009 ). Sometimes, a trail can be formed due to the dripping of blood from a weapon as well as in case of blunt or trauma injuries, due to which large volume of blood can be encountered at the crime scene (James et al. 2005 ; Peschel et al. 2011 ).

Spatter patterns

These are patterns formed when hard objects are used to strike the victim (example: a pipe). Forward spatter on the other hand is a pattern formed towards the direction of damage (example: bullet creating an exit wound) (James et al. 2005 ; Peschel et al. 2011 ). Back spatter is a pattern formed by blood when damage is to a hard surface like the skull by a bullet, and the bloodstains will be pointing away from the impact. Gunfire spatter can also vary on the caliber of the weapon used, location of impact, and the location of the victim (James et al. 2005 ; Peschel et al. 2011 ).

Projected patterns are irregular patterns that are due to the motion of weapon (example: stabbing). If in case at the crime scene there was existence of droplets of blood of varied sizes, it is called a cast-off pattern (example: injuries by hammers) (James et al. 2005 ). In case of injury to the artery, the blood from the blood vessel flows like a fountain (upward to downward flow), a zig-zag pattern will be observed until the pressure of the lungs reduces. If there was injury internally, expiration from the mouth/nose releases blood that creates a pattern very small to see (fine mist-like) (James et al. 2005 ; Peschel et al. 2011 ).

Altered patterns

Bloodstain patterns that indicate that a physical change had occurred can be said as altered patterns. This change can be due to physical activity, diffusion, dilution, or insects’, which can misguide the investigators to consider them as drip patterns. In case if the body was dragged over pre-existing blood, it leaves a tangential path (James et al. 2005 ). Contact prints may also be recovered on clean surfaces at the crime scenes (bloody shoe prints, fingerprints, or the entire palm) that can help investigators in determining what might have occurred at the crime scene. This can help investigators to determine what object could have been at the crime scene (James et al. 2005 ; Peschel et al. 2011 ).

Void patterns on the other hands are formed when an object is placed between the blood source and projection area, it is likely to receive some of the stains, which consequently leads to an absence of the stains in an otherwise continuous bloodstain pattern, which can indicate that an object or person would have been a part of the pattern (like a missing object from the wall) that if recovered can help in completing the pattern (James et al. 2005 ; Peschel et al. 2011 ).

Insects that move over the blood can also create a unique pattern that can often confuse the investigators to what pattern it could be. When blood comes into contact with clothing and fabric it spreads via diffusion, often leaving an irregularly shaped pattern which is difficult to interpret, especially in that cases the surface could be collected and send for examination to forensic labs (James et al. 2005 ; Peschel et al. 2011 ).

Moreover, to reconstruct the events that caused bloodshed, the investigators use the direction and angle of the spatter to calculate the areas of convergence (it is the starting point of the bloodshed) and area of origin (point from where the blood immerged) to mark the location of the victim and perpetrator (James et al. 2005 ) (Fig. 1 ).

Fake blood stains that were made using Awlata dye

Different works have been carried in blood pattern analysis, a study showed that when determining area of origin from blood stains, larger drops which are elliptical should be given more consideration (de Bruin et al. 2011 ). In another study, the velocities of blood were considered with factors like air drag and gravity which was used to predict the back-spatter formation by carrying the experiment using a blood-soaked sponge (Comiskey et al. 2016 ).

Fluid dynamics was also given consideration in blood pattern analysis to understand how the blood behaves as a liquid when in air and the factors that are affecting the formation the blood drop (Attinger et al. 2013 ). Study of spines and satellite on basis of velocity has also depicted the formation of bloodstains (Attinger et al. 2013 ).

In a real-time setting, studying bloodstains and its patterns using real blood can be a tedious task, as it requires a large amount of blood. Moreover, in order to carry out such a study, it will require ethical clearance as well as financial support. Using Awlata dye for studying bloodstains can solve these problems because of its easy availability, low cost, and it can be made under laboratory conditions. Thus, investigators and scientists can use this for experimental purposes and to carry future studies.

Article selection criteria for review

The initial criteria for selecting literature were based on searching different keywords on Google searching engine for blood, blood pattern analysis, and blood pattern analysis in forensic science. Then, after screening of articles based on the title and abstract of papers, papers were sorted. Articles and relevant internet sources that matched the relevant criteria of the review were also selected.

Article eligibility criteria for review

Eligibility of articles was finalized by analyzing whether the papers were discussing about BPA and its related methodology or not.

On basis of analyzing existing literature, it was decided that a study needs to be conducted by creating fake bloodstains using Awlata, so as to understand the formation of stains if the angle is kept fixed and the height is varied (Buck et al. 2011 ; Attinger et al. 2013 ). An Indian dye (Awlata/Alta) was used to make fake blood stains to depict similar patterns as that of blood. Awlata (Alta) is a traditional Indian red dye used by women in the festive season and is applied to hands and feet. For the experiment Awlata dye, a Pasteur pipette and white chart papers were used. The experiment was carried within the university premises in the university laboratory.

Preparation/composition of Awlata

In cultural practices, Awlata dye was made from Betel leaves which is a vine from the family Piperaceae. Awlata is also made from the extract of lac that is a red dye obtained from the scale of an insect Laccifer Lacca. Nowadays, Awlata can be made chemically by using Vermillion (red powder) with water to make a liquid.

Source of Awlata for the experiment

For this experiment, a ready-made Awlata dye (Pari) was bought from the local market which had its composition defined and came packed in a 50-ml bottle. The reason for taking Awlata for experiment, was Awlata dries within a few minutes and its life span is about 1–2 months, after which it starts to fade. But if it is preserved and stored properly, it can stay intact for long durations.

Formation of fake bloodstains

In this experiment, we conducted different height variations to create fake bloodstains using Awlata dye (Buck et al. 2011 ; Attinger et al. 2013 ). The experiment aimed to study the shape (morphology) of these fake bloodstains at different heights (3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 feet) so that an approximate estimation of actual blood stain formation can be studied (Attinger et al. 2013 ). A Pasteur pipette was used for this experiment and about 0.5 ml of Awlata dye was taken for making a single fake blood stain.

The amount of Awlata dye that was used to make a single fake blood stain was ascertained using the indications labeled on the Pasteur pipette. Ninety-degree angle was maintained and the Awlata dye was dropped from different heights and observations were made. For each height, two stains were made and labeled drop 1 and drop 2; this was done to compare the observation and confirm the findings.

After Awlata dye was dropped from different heights to create fake blood stains, it was observed that as the height was increased, the distance of satellite stains emerging from the fake blood stains was also increasing. It can be observed that fake blood stain created from three feet has many numbers of spines and less satellite stains and they are very close to the parent stain. Similarly, as the height was increased, the numbers of spines were reduced and the number of satellite stains was increased.

The experimental observation noted was that as the height was increased, the force of gravity acting on the Awlata dye was also increasing, and hence when the Awlata dye was dropped from a height to create fake blood stains, the impact of the dye on the surface due to gravitational forces, inertial forces, and viscous forces (Attinger et al. 2013 ) could be the possible cause of formation of such stains. To ascertain the formation of these fake blood stains, we retook the height experiment and the observations were very similar to that of the first drop (see Table 1 ).

Discussions

After the experiment carried with Awlata dye, it was observed that height was directly proportional to the number of satellite stains (stains that are small droplets moving away from the parent stain, they are partially/not attached to the parent stain), i.e., more distant the satellite stains from the parent drop, more will be the height. Whereas relation of spines (these are small projections coming out from the parent stain, they remain attached to the parent stain) and height was inverse in nature, i.e., when the height was increased the number of spines reduced.

Though Awlata was used to study the formation of fake blood stains, care must be taken that this dye should be kept away from contact with moisture/water as repeated moisture/water tends to fade the dye and also wash it off. So, if Awlata dye is used for future studies, the observations made from this dye should be properly stored and preserved. This will help ensure the integrity of experimental findings is not altered.

Factors like size, age, and health of the individual should also be given consideration while studying the blood stain formation. Moreover, surface tension also plays an important role in the formation of bloodstains (Larkin et al. 2012 ). Surface tension is also varied if there is some chemical or other chemical present in the blood (Raymond et al. 1996 ). The surface roughness, permeability, and porosity also effect the formation of bloodstain formation. So, these factors are also needed to be given consideration when studying bloodstains (Bear 1975 ).

Study of fake bloodstains using Awlata dye highlights these potential aspects and on basis of existing literary works carried by other scientists a more definite version of BPA can be worked upon. Study of fluid dynamics should also be given consideration while studying bloodstain formation (Attinger et al. 2013 ). To open new gateways of research in BPA and support investigative observations, the findings depicted in this paper can be used as a source to validate actual blood stains and also carry out future studies. Domains like how angle variation with respect to height effects formation of blood stains can be explored on the basis of these findings. This finding can help to understand the formation of blood stains for future research and development.

The future of BPA is promising and more research needs to be done to improve BPA. A more precise method of blood interpretations should be created to make investigations more accurate, so that crime scene reconstruction can be carried out efficiently. The study conducted using Awlata dye can be a contributor to the existing literature on BPA. This paper is a review work which can be utilized by students, scientists, or experts as a reference for carrying out future studies or to enhance their knowledge. Blood pattern analysis is indeed a useful tool in forensic science which can help in crime scene reconstruction and if BPA is coupled with DNA analysis and other investigative findings, more conclusive and thorough details of the sequence of events can be obtained from blood evidence.

Limitations of Awlata dye

The composition of Awlata dye (Alta) and blood vary; hence, Awlata dye (Alta) cannot be considered as blood. Awlata was used to create fake bloodstains which can give an approximate idea towards BPA and resemblance somewhat similar to actual blood stains. The actual scenario at the crime scene that led to the formation of blood stains and that made by Awlata dye has scope for human errors too as studying blood stains in real and that in experimental conditions differ.

Awlata dye use in the forensic scenario

Studying BPA is a very skillful task, and at the crime scene when real blood is concerned, the scenarios are simultaneous and unpredictable. To carry studies to understand bloodstains is not always possible; it requires a large amount of blood which is subjected to ethical clearance. Awlata dye can be an emerging substitute to this problem, as it is cost-effective, readily available, and can also be made in the lab. Awlata dye can be used to create experimental conditions to study different forensic scenarios. Fake blood created with Awlata dyes can be used to make simulated crime scenes from forensic and investigative findings to derive case supportive conclusions.

From the experiment done using Awlata dye ( Alta ), it can be concluded that blood stains can help experts estimate the approximate height of the assailant. The formation of the bloodstain can correspond to the height it originated from, thus being a vital source of information. A relation of formation of blood stains with change in varying height was established in accordance with interpretation of spines and satellite stains. Though Awlata is not similar to blood, it can be used to carry out experimental studies to explore more about BPA. Existing studies on BPA depict that blood patterns are very useful source of information and it can help investigators to examine the crime scene precisely.

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable

Abbreviations

Blood pattern analysis

Deoxyribonucleic acid

Ultra violet

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School of Forensic Science, National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India

Prashant Singh & Nandini Gupta

Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Forensic Sciences, Amity University, Manesar, Haryana, India

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PS and NG worked on researching relevant data and writing of this review paper. RR was our guide and mentor who constantly guided us and helped formulate the different sections of the review and did the final check. We clarify that all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Prashant Singh .

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Singh, P., Gupta, N. & Rathi, R. Blood pattern analysis—a review and new findings. Egypt J Forensic Sci 11 , 9 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41935-021-00224-8

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s41935-021-00224-8

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A data set of bloodstain patterns for teaching and research in bloodstain pattern analysis: Gunshot backspatters

Daniel attinger.

a Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 50010 Ames, IA, USA

b Department of Computer Science, Iowa State University, 50010 Ames, IA, USA

Ricky Faflak

c Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, 50010 Ames, IA, USA

Bryce A. Struttman

Kris de brabanter, patrick m. comiskey.

d Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 842 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60607-7022, USA

Alexander L. Yarin

Associated data.

This is a data set of blood spatter patterns scanned at high resolution, generated in controlled experiments. The spatter patterns were generated with a rifle or a handgun with varying ammunition. The resulting atomized blood droplets travelled opposite to the bullet direction, generating a gunshot backspatter on a poster board target sheet. Fresh blood with anticoagulants was used; its hematocrit and temperature were measured. The main parameters of the study were the bullet shape, size and speed, and the distance between the blood source and target sheet. Several other parameters were explored in a less systematic way. This new and original data set is suitable for training or research purposes in the forensic discipline of bloodstain pattern analysis.

Specifications table

Value of the data

• The data set can be used by researchers. One research purpose is to test crime scene reconstruction models [1] , [2] , [3] . Briefly, these models pursue at least two purposes. First, they classify patterns with respect to their generation mechanism (e.g. beating vs. shooting [4] ). Second, they determine the region of origin of the blood spatter [5] , [6] . Recently, the US National Academies emphasized [7] the need to develop more accurate bloodstain pattern analysis methods, with stronger fluid dynamics foundations. Accessibility to large amounts of bloodstain patterns produced under controlled conditions is thus important for the development of the needed science base. The data in this manuscript addresses the above issues by systematically documenting the experimental conditions. Data of this manuscript can also inform studies investigating conditions for the presence of spatter stains on the firearm or the shooter [8] , [9] .
• The data helps dissemination of blood spatters for teaching and instructional purposes. Indeed, generation and transport of blood spatters is cumbersome. A large space, the size of a habitation room, is needed to generate a realistic blood spatter; and care should be taken to have reproducible and realistic experimental conditions. Shooting comes with its own strict safety rules, and is best done at an indoor shooting range to prevent draft from atmospheric winds. Blood sourcing and handling is not trivial either. Blood needs to be used under strict safety conditions because of the risk of blood-borne diseases and pathogens. Since travelling across borders is common for BPA instructors, both alternatives of travelling with blood spatters through customs or having the blood spatters prepared at the site and time of the workshop involve logistic efforts, costs and safety risks. Also blood ages within days [10] . All the experiments here use blood drawn less than 3 days before the experiment and spiked with anticoagulant. This database provides BPA instructors with a safe set of spatters ready to be printed at high resolution for their classes.
• This data set is new and original, and the data has not been published elsewhere.
• The experimental design and methods described in this manuscript can be readily reproduced and used to generate additional blood spatters. Note that there is still no consensus on which experimental setup is best to simulate the complexity of gunshot spatters in realistic conditions, where blood is located within a complex structure involving body tissues and blood vessels, covered by skin. Head of calves have been used [11] , a human cadaver filled with blood [12] , foams or sponges soaked in blood [4] , [13] , or cavities filled with blood have been used [14] . Experiments reported here used both soaked foams and cavities filled with blood as the blood source, and the information on which blood source was used is specified.

Blood spatters are a subset of bloodstain patterns, with stains generated when an impacting object causes drops to go airborne [1] , [2] , [3] before hitting the surface of a solid object called the target. Gunshot backspatters are spatters where blood is atomized by a bullet, in a direction opposite to that of the bullet [2] . Discussion and physical description on the dynamics of a fluid impacted by a high-speed projectile can be found in Ref. [15] . Those events of atomization and airborne transport are rarely observable in a crime scene, and distinguish spatters from other bloodstain patterns, such as transfers where stains are produced by contact between the blood source and the target. Fig. 1 shows a typical gunshot blood spatter, as provided in this work.

Example of blood spatter Rp42, with scale on top. The size of the target cardstock board is 140 cm × 110 cm, left. The high resolution of the stain edges is well visible, as well as the bullet hole in the middle picture, top left. Image segmentation software such as the one used in Ref. [16] can count and measure more than 10,000 individual spots in the image, within a few minutes of processing time.

Fig. 2 describes the geometry and setup used to generate the spatters. Most spatters were produced on a vertical target, with the bullet hole indicating the bullet impact location. The travel direction of the bullet was perpendicular to both the blood source and the target. For such a system, the visible location of the bullet hole and the orientation of the image – the image width corresponding to the horizontal direction of the experiment – defines the geometry. For the cases where muzzle gases were allowed to interact with the spatter process, the barrel of the gun was perpendicular to the cardstock target, and at the same distance from the blood source as the target, centered into a cutout of about 1 in. in size. The cutout in the cardstock is also visible in the scans, and determines the geometry of the spatter. Few spatters were produced on horizontal targets, where the angle between the bullet trajectory and a horizontal line was varied between 0° and 60°.

Description of the experimental geometry used to generate spatters on a vertical cardstock target (a) and on a horizontal one (b). Picture (c) shows the preparation of a vertical backspatter from a handgun, using a cavity filled with blood and the muzzle gas diffuser.

The conditions of each experiment are documented in a text file located in the same directory as the spatter image. For spatters on a vertical target, the conditions are summarized in Table 1 , with the range of each parameter, and the reason for documentation of each parameter. Fig. 3 provides a synthetic view of the main variables investigated, the velocity of the impact that atomized the blood, and the distance between blood source and spatter target. For spatters on a vertical target, each test was denoted using the nomenclature described in Fig. 3 . For spatters on a horizontal target, each test was denoted using the nomenclature in Table 2 . The investigated conditions are summarized in Table 2 . Some spatters names end with a number in parenthesis which our research team has used as an alternate name. Note that some spatters have been described in a general manner and compared to numerical models in Refs. [16] , [17] .

Description of the variables documented. Ranges of parameters are indicated, and parameters that have been systematically varied during the investigation are in bold. Most commonly used values of parameters are underlined.

Synthetic view of the spatters on vertical targets. X -axis is the horizontal distance between blood source and cardstock target; Y -axis is velocity of the bullet. Blood spatters are designated with symbols R (rifle), H (handgun), p (pointy bullet), f (flat tip bullet), r (round tip bullet). Symbols after spatter number are m (muzzle gases interacting with spatter), h (horizontal spatter), # (blood source in soaked foam). The asterisk denotes spatters analyzed in an earlier study on the fluid dynamics of backspatters [16] .

Description of the spatters on horizontal targets. The first position denotes the gun ( H standing for handgun, and R, for rifle); the second position indicates the initial inclination angle δ between bullet trajectory and the horizontal (e.g., a0 denotes a zero bullet inclination angle δ = 0°), and the third position describes the horizontal distance D from the gun barrel exit to the blood source in cm. The height H is measured from the center of the blood source to the floor. For example, H-a0-D300 stands for a horizontal cardstock target (placed on the floor) with an initial bullet inclination angle δ = 0° and a distance from the gun barrel exit to the target of 300 cm. Trial numbers for each test case were appended at the end of the experimental nomenclature, e.g., as −1 and −2. Muzzle gases were either allowed to interact with the spatter or suppressed with a diffuser plate. The asterisk denotes spatters analyzed in our earlier study on the fluid dynamics of backspatters [17] .

The scanned images of the spatters are provided electronically in the appendix. Some of the spatters contain well over 10,000 stains, each produced by the same single bullet. The high resolution of the stain edges is well visible. Image segmentation software such as the one used in Ref. [16] can count and measure more than 10,000 individual spots in the image, within a few minutes of processing time.

2. Experimental design, materials and methods

Most backward spatters were generated at the Izaak Walton League Park indoor shooting range (Ames, Iowa, USA) and a few spatters at an indoor range used by the Fort Dodge (Iowa, USA) Police Depatment. The air was quiescent.

The rifle was held in position with an ad hoc metallic structure. The handgun was mounted in a fixed position with a Ransom rest (Master Combo Series, Ransom International Corp.). Ammunition and gun description is in Table 3 .

Guns and bullets used in the experiments with manufacturer number. Velocities are either as per manufacturer data (and preceded with the symbol “~”) or measured with a chronograph at the shooting range. The grain is a measure of mass, and can be converted to SI units as 1 grain ≅ 64.8 mg. Pictured ruler has cm units.

Most blood spatters were generated on flat cardstock poster board sheets (UCreate, Walmart Inc., each 22 in. × 28 in.). Targets of larger sizes were assembled by juxtaposing several poster board sheets using masking tape at the back of the joints. The smooth side of the cardstock was used. An optical profilometer (Zygo Newview 6300) measured the roughness of the target, with results reported in Table 1 . Spreading correlations, which link drop sizes, stain sizes and impact velocities together, have been characterized on this substrate according to the methods in Ref. [19] .

The blood source was either a foam or sponge soaked with blood, or a closed blood filled cavity reservoir. The latter was prepared as follows. A section of paper was peeled back from one side of foam board (Elmer׳s, USA). The foam board in a central cylindrical section (either one or two in. in diameter) was then removed; the cavity was filled with blood. Clear packaging tape was utilized to affix the paper back over the blood-filled cavity. This latter setup became the source of choice because of apparent improved reproducibility of the spatters, in comparison with the ones obtained with the soaked foam or sponge. The type of blood sources are in Table 2 and Fig. 3 , with details in the text files describing the individual spatters provided as supplementary documentation.

Spatters on vertical targets were generated as follows: A cardstock target was used to collect the backward spattered drops and was placed vertically between the muzzle of the gun and the target (see Fig. 3 a). The bullet trajectory was parallel to the ground at a height of typically 50–70 cm. Spatters on horizontal targets were generated according to the geometry described in Fig. 3 b and [17] , and summarized in Table 2 .

To suppress or at least minimize the interaction of the muzzle gases with the back spatter process, a high-density fiberboard diffuser plate pierced with a hole twice the diameter of the bullet was placed between the gun and the target. For a few spatters, interaction with muzzle gases was allowed by removing the diffuser plate; for vertical spatters, the gun barrel was placed at the same distance from the blood source as the cardstock target, in a cutout made at the center of the cardstock target.

The experiments utilized ethically-sourced swine blood with an anticoagulant of either heparin or ACD. The blood was drawn less than 72 h prior to any experiment. The blood was placed on a rocker and was at room temperature. Hematocrit was measured with a dedicated centrifugation device (STI, HemataStat-II). Room temperature and relative humidity were measured with a Mannix PTH8708 temperature-humidity pen.

The choice of swine blood can be explained as a compromise between safety and relevance to BPA in a public university laboratory. Indeed, human blood is a biohazard, requiring extensive testing and handling precautions to avoid risks such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and hepatitis B and C, which can be deadly if untreated. Artificial blood is still in a development phase, and it is not clear whether it will ever be able to match all the complex – and still partly unknown [24] – characteristics of actual blood [3] . Among available animal blood, swine blood is the closest to human blood in terms of comparable physical properties [25] , such as hematocrit range, shear viscosity of whole blood and plasma, and erythrocyte aggregation behavior. Since swine blood has not been associated with risks of HIV or hepatitis B, it is a safer substitute to human blood. Thus, swine blood was drawn from healthy pigs screened for zoonotic diseases at the Ames USDA facilities. Blood was stored refrigerated when not in use and allowed to reach room temperature before use. Personal protection equipment for the biohazard while producing the spatters included coveralls, gloves, face shields, surgical masks, and goggles, while gloves were used for manipulating dried spatters, e.g. during scanning.

After the spatter was produced, the target was removed from the holding fixture and the bloodstains were allowed to dry. Spatters were then digitized with a flatbed scanner at 600 DPI. That resolution is slightly better than what has been obtained with high-end photography [4] , and allows a clear definition of the edges of most stains. The use of a scanner also avoids issues of parallax, which are often present on crime scene photographs. The spatters were scanned in a piecewise manner, by cutting the tape joining the poster board sheets (tape was at their backside), because the maximum scanning area of the scanner was European A3 format (297 mm × 420 mm), significantly smaller than the largest target posters. Poster board sheets were never cut in that process. Scans were assembled using the image processing software Adobe Photoshop, and saved as high-quality JPG׳s. A sticker was placed at the center of each sheet, to allow precise assembly of the scans. Adobe Photoshop was used to remove most marks that were not stains, such as the sticker, tape, or pencil marks. On vertical targets, the bullet hole or the cutout for the barrel is visible. That hole and the fact that in the experiments with vertical targets, gravity goes vertically from top to the bottom of the scanned image fully describes the geometry of the spatter generation, because bullets travelled horizontally and normally through the vertical target and blood source. In experiments with horizontal spatters, the top of the scanned image correspond to the location of the blood source.

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge financial support from the US National Institute of Justice, United States (award no. NIJ 2014-DN-BX-K036). This work was also partially funded by the Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence (CSAFE), United States through Cooperative Agreement No. 70NANB15H176 between NIST and Iowa State University, which includes activities carried out at Carnegie Mellon University, University of California Irvine, and University of Virginia. We acknowledge the contribution of Officer Darin Van Ryswyk and Sgt Christopher O’Brien who performed the shootings; the help of Sungu Kim, Prashant Agrawal, John Polansky and Reetam Das to perform the experiments; useful discussions with William Ristenpart, Craig Moore and Kevin Winer; and the roughness measurements by Ashraf Bastawros and Bishoy Dawood.

Transparency document Transparency data associated with this article can be found in the online version at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2018.11.075 .

Appendix A Supplementary data associated with this article can be found in the online version at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2018.11.075 .

Transparency document. Supplementary material

Supplementary material

Appendix A. Supplementary material

Serology: It's in the Blood

Blood Pattern Analysis

Blood pattern analysis plays an important role in the reconstruction of many crime scenes. For example, when a prominent Cincinnati physician appeared to be the victim of an apparent suicide, the spatter pattern on his hand and on the couch on which he lay told a story of murder instead. The various types of bloodstains indicate how the blood was projected from the body via several factors:

Type of injuries
The order in which the wounds were received
Whose blood is present
The type of weapon that caused the injuries
Whether the victim was in motion or lying still when the injury was inflicted
Whether the victim was moved after the injury was inflicted
How far the blood drops fell before hitting the surface where they were found

Blood may be dripped out, sprayed from an artery, oozed out through a large wound, or flung off a weapon raised to strike another blow. In the 1930s, Scottish pathologist John Glaister classified blood splashes into six distinct types:

Drops on a horizontal surface
Splashes, from blood flying through the air and hitting a surface at an angle
Pools around the body, which can show if it's been dragged
Spurts from a major artery or vein
Smears left by movement of a bleeding person

Trails, either in form of smears when a bleeding body is dragged, or in droplets when it is carried. (Trails also form when a person is wounded and walks away but leaves blood along the way.)

Any of these can be traced back to their converging point by considering such factors as the surface on which it fell, the angle it hit, and the distance it traveled.

Brian Kennedy, a sergeant with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department in California, is an expert in crime scene reconstruction, specializing since 1984 in bloodstain pattern analysis. For more than a decade, he has been teaching this technique to other forensic investigators and he believes that gaining insight from bloodstain patterns can strengthen interrogation strategies and provide juries with a clear visual format.

"Bloodstain patterns," Kennedy says, "will help the investigators understand the positions and the means by which the victim and suspect moved, interacted, and struggled through the crime scene. With an understanding of what and how things occurred, investigators can focus and find fingerprints, footprints, hairs, fibers and other forms of trace evidence. The assessment of bloodstain patterns will also limit the need to collect an overabundance of redundant blood sample for DNA. Furthermore, a reconstruction of the scene helps the investigators determine which of the witnesses and suspects is telling the truth or lying."

The shape of the blood drop itself, according to Kennedy, can reveal significant information. "The proportions of the drops can reveal the energy needed to disburse it in those dimensions. The shape of the stain can illustrate the direction in which it was traveling and angle at which it struck the surface. Choosing several stains, and using basic trigonometric functions, enables us to do a three dimensional recreation of the area of origin from which a blood-letting event occurred."

Kennedy goes on to point out that the disruption of a blood drop on impact with a surface is directly related to the texture of the surface. "A smooth surface, such as glass, will provide the recording of a stain with clean edges and shapes of proper geometric proportion. A rough surface, like concrete, will break the surface tension irregularly and generate a star burst, or spinning effect. An experienced analyst is able to use some of the most disrupted stains to recreate the event. Arterial spurts, for example, when compared with the anatomical location of the injury may provide information about the position when the injury was inflicted and any subsequent movement by the injured party. Castoff patterns, or drops that are thrown off of a swinging instrument in the arc of the swing, can illustrate the position of the assailant when swinging a knife, or club." Other crime scene analysts make the analysis of blood drops and spatters a bit more standard, but are aware, like Kennedy, that the surface type has a significant effect on just how the blood will appear. Distance estimates such as those provided in the following list are of little value unless the effects of a surface are known.

According to the basic teaching texts, the shape of a blood drop can reveal a lot about the conditions in which it fell. Given the many variations in what can happen at a crime scene, the experts don't necessarily all agree, but a flexible rule of thumb with a generally smooth and non-porous surface might be the following:

If blood falls a short distance — around twelve inches — at a 45-degree angle, the marks tend to be circular
If blood drops fall several feet straight down, the edges may become crenellated, and the farther the distance from the source to the surface, the more pronounced the crenellation
A height of six feet or more can produce small spurts that radiate out from the main drop
If there are many drops less than an eighth of an inch across, with no larger drop, then it may be concluded that the blood spatter probably resulted from an impact
If the source was in motion when the blood leaked or spurted, or if the drops flew through the air and hit an angled surface, the drops generally look like stretched-out exclamation marks. The end of the stain that has the smallest size blob indicates the direction in which the source was moving.

It must be emphasized that blood pattern analysis is a complicated discipline and requires experience with many different situations to learn to do an accurate reading. While any of the above statements may be true, there can also be exceptions, and all interpretations are contingent on the factors that make up the context of the crime scene, most specifically the surface on which the blood made an impact.

"All classifications of bloodstain patterns help in the reconstruction of the events," Kennedy points out. "Spatter patterns give the nature of the force and positioning of the victim when shot or bludgeoned. Castoff patterns reveal the positioning and the possible size of the assailant. One also gets an indication of the size of the instrument swung and whether the swinger is left- or right-handed. Transfer patterns and hemorrhage or drip patterns give the direction of movement after blood is shed and can give an indication of timeframes. Arterial spurting can give the position, movement and seriousness of the injury, while 'shadows' — the absence of blood where one would expect to find it — suggest movement or removal of objects and changes to the scene."

A case in England in 1984 shows the importance of blood pattern analysis. A village womanizer named Graham Backhouse was found injured in his home with slashes across his face and chest. A neighbor with whom he'd had a dispute lay dead nearby, shot by Backhouse, who claimed the man had attacked him. However, the blood patterns showed that Backhouse had been standing still or moving slowly when he was wounded, rather than being in the sort of struggle he described. In that case, the blood would have been flung against surfaces to produce the elliptical pattern. Also, there was no blood from Backhouse on his gun or near the victim. The conclusion was that he shot his victim and then inflicted the wounds on himself. Along with other evidence, the blood analysis helped to convict him of murder.

"I have worked many cases in which bloodstain patterns contributed significantly to a guilty plea or guilty verdict," Kennedy recalls. "I have also worked cases in which the bloodstains did not support the initial allegations and the defendant was convicted of a lesser crime, or the charges were dismissed. For example in People vs. Brett Brooks Harris in Sacramento, the defendant claimed his stepfather had beaten his mother to death and then attacked him. Brett said he took the maddux handle from his stepfather and killed him in self-defense. Yet the bloodstain patterns showed that the stepfather was down and incapacitated before the mother, and both victims had been beaten more than they would have been during a single event. Based on bloodstain pattern analysis, Brett was held to answer from the preliminary hearing and, after serology validated the analysis, he pled guilty before trial."

In another case on which Kennedy worked, People vs. Pallermo in San Joaquin County, the defendant claimed the female victim had accidentally shot herself. "However, the bloodstain pattern analysis and computer models showed the defendant's rendition to have been an impossibility, and it placed the shooter across the room with the victim crawling into the corner to get away from the threat of the gun. The jury found the defendant guilty of second degree murder."

Asked about current research that may provide breakthroughs for forensic investigation, Kennedy said, "Bloodstain pattern analysis involves a constant need for research and development. The more cases that are worked and the more investigators involved, the more sophisticated the discipline will become. Probably the most advanced research has been done by members of the Crime Scene Bloodstain Section of the Royal Canadian Mount Police, Forensic Support Services. The RCMP is the only agency I know in the world that assigns and trains experienced crime scene investigators to do bloodstain pattern analysis only. They have developed a number of protocols that have been adopted around the world. Dr. Fred Carter, a professor of physics, has worked with the RCMP to develop several computer programs to teach the new analyst and help the experienced investigator."

No matter what kind of analysis is used on the blood at a crime scene, care must be taken to handle it properly and to prevent putrefaction. Photos and notes should be taken before any blood is lifted. Samples should not be exposed to heat, moisture, or bacterial contamination, because this shortens the survival time of proteins, enzymes, and antigens. Delays in getting samples to the lab must be avoided at all cost, because it can diminish evidential value.

This was one of the central issues in the most prominent case of the past decade in which blood analysis was a primary feature: the O. J. Simpson investigation.

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1983 - 2024. The International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts is an organization of forensic experts specializing in the science of bloodstain pattern analysis. The IABPA is currently comprised of approximately 800 members, worldwide, from various scientific, law enforcement, criminal justice and academic backgrounds.
How to Become a Blood Spatter Analyst
To become a blood spatter analyst, follow the steps below: 1. Earn a degree in natural science, such as biology, chemistry or forensic science. A graduate degree is usually necessary as well. Blood spatter analysts can earn a number of different degrees in forensic science to find entry-level work. 2.
Blood Spatter Analyst: Career Guide
Blood Spatter Analyst Salary and Job Outlook. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that forensic science technicians earned a median salary of $57,850 per year as of May 2017. 1 The projected job growth for this occupation through 2026 is much faster than average, at 17%. 1 The BLS predicts that open positions in forensic science will ...
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A blood spatter analyst, also known as a bloodstain pattern analyst, is a professional trained to work with blood found at crime scenes. Although a lot of their time is spent at crime scenes, they also spend an almost equal amount of time in labs analyzing the blood, and blood patterns and determining how they fit into the crime scene.
Bloodstain pattern analysis: Does experience equate to expertise
Matt N. Krosch, PhD, Quality Management Section, Forensic Services Group, Queensland Police Service, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia. Email: [email protected] ... Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) has long been accepted by courts as an area of expertise; however, that position has recently been challenged. ...
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Both lecture and practical, mock scenarios will be incorporated. DAY 1- Students will be provided a review of the basic bloodstain pattern analysis course to reinforce objectives, methodologies, and proper terminology of bloodstains. DAY 2- Students will be introduced to complex patterns and case scenarios that focus on sequencing of patterns.
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Blood Spatter Analyst Job Duties and Tasks. Collect bloodstains and traces. Photograph and videotape bloodstains. Collect blood samples for DNA profiling. Exercise precautions to avoid cross-contamination of blood or trace evidence. Document what is found to maintain a record of the scene integrity. Work with forensic serology to test if the ...
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Blood Spatter Analysis ("BPA") for years has been a state of the art, highly-sophisticated forensic consideration in determining the trajectory and origin of a crime scene gunshot, yet recent advancements in physics have now turned the science of blood spatter investigations "inside-out." Following the study of "turbulent vortex rings ...
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Bloodstain pattern analysis is performed in two phases: pattern analysis and reconstruction. 1. Pattern Analysis looks at the physical characteristics of the stain patterns including size, shape, distribution, overall appearance, location and surface texture where the stains are found. Analysts interpret what pattern types are present and what ...
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Burgess, Michael K. M.S., Purdue University, August 2015. A Technological Approach to Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. Major Professor: Marcus Rogers. The field of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis has had many achievements since the mid. 1900's, such as using computers in a physical crime scene.
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Blood spatter analysis or Blood stain pattern analysis (BSPA) is the interpretation of blood stains for the reconstruction of crime scenes to assist in the investigation of violent crimes. A spatter stain refers to the blood stains that result from blood droplets that are projected through the air, due to an external force applied to a source ...
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Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA) is a forensic discipline which analyzes blood and bloodstains to aid in the reconstruction of events at a crime scene [11]. Any number of different stains and patterns may present themselves at a scene including transfer stains, projected patterns, expiration patterns, impact patterns and others.
Blood pattern analysis—a review and new findings
Blood is one of the most common pieces of evidence encountered at the crime scene. Due to the viscous nature of blood, unique bloodstain patterns are formed which when studied can reveal what might have happened at the scene of the crime. Blood pattern analysis (BPA), i.e., the study of shape, size, and nature of bloodstain. The focus of this paper is to understand blood and BPA.
Using the likelihood ratio in bloodstain pattern analysis
Kris De Brabanter, PhD, Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, 2419 Snedecor Hall, 2438 Osborn Dr. Ames, IA 50011-1210, USA. ... "Forensic examiners in disciplines like crime scene investigation, arson, and blood spatter analysis attempt to reconstruct a crime based on evidence found at the crime scene, which can be viewed as ...
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Principles of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. To understand how analysts interpret bloodstains, one mustfirst understand the basic properties of blood. Blood contains both liquid (plasma and serum) and solids (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and proteins). Blood is in a liquid state when inside the body, and when it exits the body ...
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Recently, the US National Academies emphasized the need to develop more accurate bloodstain pattern analysis methods, with stronger fluid dynamics foundations. Accessibility to large amounts of bloodstain patterns produced under controlled conditions is thus important for the development of the needed science base , , , . The data in this ...
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Second, they determine the region of origin of the blood spatter , . Recently, the US National Academies emphasized the need to develop more accurate bloodstain pattern analysis methods, with stronger fluid dynamics foundations. Accessibility to large amounts of bloodstain patterns produced under controlled conditions is thus important for the ...
Blood Pattern Analysis
Blood pattern analysis plays an important role in the reconstruction of many crime scenes. For example, when a prominent Cincinnati physician appeared to be the victim of an apparent suicide, the spatter pattern on his hand and on the couch on which he lay told a story of murder instead. The various types of bloodstains indicate how the blood ...
Blood pattern analysis—a review and new findings
viscous nature of blood, unique bloodstain patterns are formed which when studied can reveal what might have. happened at the scene of the crime. Blood pattern analysis (BPA), i.e., the study of ...
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ANALYZING SPATTER STAINS

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Blood pattern analysis—a review and new findings

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Altered patterns

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Preparation/composition of Awlata

Source of Awlata for the experiment

Formation of fake bloodstains

Discussions

Limitations of Awlata dye

Awlata dye use in the forensic scenario

Availability of data and materials

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A data set of bloodstain patterns for teaching and research in bloodstain pattern analysis: Gunshot backspatters

Ricky Faflak

Bryce A. Struttman

Alexander L. Yarin

2. Experimental design, materials and methods

Acknowledgements

Transparency document. Supplementary material

Appendix A. Supplementary material

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