Multimode Imaging in the Thermal Infrared for Chemical Contrast Enhancement. Part 3: Visualizing Blood on Fabrics

Abstract

Infrared thermal imaging using lock-in and molecular factor computing methods for the detection of blood on a dark, acrylic fabric is shown. Contrast differences between the clean fabric and the fabric stained with blood diluted as low as 1:100 are reported. We have also demonstrated that this method can be used to discriminate between a bloodstain and four common interfering agents (bleach, rust, cherry soda, and coffee) to other blood detection methods. These results indicate that this system could be useful for crime scene investigations by focusing nondestructive attention on areas more likely to be suitable for further analysis.