Page 87 - VERITAS Vol.2 Issue 2

STEAM

THERMOGRAPHY

Veritas Volume: 2, Issue: 2, Pages:78-79 Ms. Keerthi Anupama

Bloodstains are one of the most crucial forms of evidence in a fo-

rensic examination. Examining the pattern and quantity of blood

found at a crime scene could provide details on the nature of the

crime. Its in-depth analysis can reveal absolute pieces of informa-

tion such as the identification of a victim or the culprit responsible
for the crime, the nature of the injury, the weapon used to inflict the

injury, etc.

When entering a scene of the crime, the investigating officer

must be able to detect and record their findings by means of sketch-

ing, video, and photographing evidence. For evidence pertaining to

bloodstains, the application of luminol and other blood detection

techniques can be employed. Luminol is a widely used chemical for
the detection of blood stains at a scene of crime. It basically reacts

with the iron components of the blood and fluoresces when viewed

in the dark. Apart from the dramatic flair it provides, it is accom-

panied by a few setbacks. The technique improvised to counter the

setbacks of luminol tests is ‘Steam Thermography’.

Fig 1. Fingerprints developed using steam thermography
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Veritas Volume: 2, Issue: 2