Comparison of Presumptive Blood Test Kits Including Hexagon OBTI

Authors: Johnston, Emma¹; Ames, Carole E.²; Dagnall, Kathryn E.²; Foster, John²; Daniel, Barbara E.¹

Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences, Volume 53, Number 3, May 2008 , pp. 687-689(3)

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Abstract:

Four presumptive blood tests, Hexagon OBTI, Hemastix®, Leucomalachite green (LMG), and Kastle-Meyer (KM) were compared for their sensitivity in the identification of dried bloodstains. Stains of varying blood dilutions were subjected to each presumptive test and the results compared. The Hexagon OBTI buffer volume was also reduced to ascertain whether this increased the sensitivity of the kit. The study found that Hemastix® was the most sensitive test for trace blood detection. Only with the reduced buffer volume was the Hexagon OBTI kit as sensitive as the LMG and KM tests. However, the Hexagon OBTI kit has the advantage of being a primate specific blood detection kit. This study also investigated whether the OBTI buffer within the kit could be utilized for DNA profiling after presumptive testing. The results show that DNA profiles can be obtained from the Hexagon OBTI kit buffer directly.

Keywords: forensic science; presumptive blood testing; Hexagon OBTI; Kastle-Meyer; Leucomalachite green; Hemastix®

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00727.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Forensic Science and Drug Monitoring, King's College London, London SE1 9NJ, UK. 2: Directorate of Forensic Services, Metropolitan Police Service, London SW1H 0BG, UK.

Publication date: 2008-05-01