Accuracy, Reliability, and Safety of Luminol in Bloodstain Investigation

Abstract

The reliability of luminol as a presumptive test reagent was studied in this work. The possibility of obtaining a false negative subsequent to contamination of the test specimen was determined. The behavior of luminol with respect to a contaminant was compared to other reagents used in similar tests. Following an analysis of the test results, other test sensitivity, and safety data, it was concluded that luminol is a more reliable reagent than others due to a higher improbability of producing false positives and false negatives, apart from being safer than other substances. It should, therefore, be considered as a “preferable” or “first choice” reagent for use in presumptive tests.